Trans* Formers...More than Meets the Eye: An Analysis of Canadian University Sport and Transgender Athletes

CeelenC, Andrea

Weaving, Charlene

In light of the recent controversies surrounding the inclusion of transgender and intersex athletes, such as Dutee Chand being banned from competing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, this paper examines binary gender borders and competitive advantage. Specifically, I argue that Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) ought to adopt a transgender policy in order to promote inclusion. A sport philosophical approach in conjunction with a content analysis of the current International Olympic Committee (IOC) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules for inclusion of transgender and intersex athletes was conducted. I found that there is little concrete scientific research to suggest that being bom physically male or female inherently grants an athlete a competitive advantage in the case of transgender athletes. And, that forcing an individual to undergo surgery raises ethical concerns. Therefore, it is recommended that CIS create a transgender inclusion policy that exempts varsity athletes from medical intervention and allows transgender athletes to compete under the gender in which they identify.

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Faculty of Science. Human Kinetics.

Human Kinetics

St. Francis Xavier University

Undergraduate