INDIANAPOLIS, November 17, 2020 – USA Gymnastics today introduced an updated policy for transgender and non-binary inclusion. The policy is intended to promote a safe and inclusive environment for athletes of all gender identities, while protecting the privacy of trans and non-binary athletes.

“Our top priority is and must always be the safety of our athletes, including their emotional and psychological safety,” said USA Gymnastics CEO Li Li Leung. “Inclusivity plays an important role in creating safe and welcoming environments for our community members, and this policy will help ensure athletes who identify as transgender or non-binary feel at home in our sport.”

The policy, which is based on current medical science and consistent with anti-discrimination legislation, makes several changes to the 2015 policy, including:

  • Transgender athletes no longer need to apply to participate in the discipline that aligns with their gender identity.
  • Surgical sex reassignment, legal gender recognition, and hormone therapy requirements have been removed.
  • Guidance for non-binary athletes has been added.
  • Educational resources have been incorporated within the policy to help build a more informed community.

While USA Gymnastics’ updated policy will apply to nearly all member athletes, ‘International Track’ gymnasts – defined as those who, in the next 12 months, intend to qualify for the Junior or Senior National Teams, who may represent USA Gymnastics internationally, or who qualify to any event where a National Team is selected – will continue to be governed by the International Olympic Committee’s policies.

To create the most inclusive and effective policy possible, USA Gymnastics’ officials and members of the organization’s Athlete Health and Wellness Council conducted a review of available research on transgender athletes as well as best practices and existing inclusion policies adopted by national and international sport bodies. Much of that research is available under the resources section of the policy. USA Gymnastics also solicited input directly from the transgender athlete community.

“We are grateful to the members of the Athlete Health and Wellness Council as well as those in our gymnastics community who contributed their time and expertise to this policy,” said Kim Kranz, USA Gymnastics’ Chief of Athlete Wellness. “This policy is part of our commitment to help create an inclusive environment within our sport. Everyone should have the opportunity to participate in gymnastics with the knowledge that they will be safe and have their dignity respected.”