Two British athletes could make history by becoming the first transgender athletes to compete at the Olympics if they are picked for the GB squad heading to Rio.
Whilst critics might complain that the unnamed athletes could hold a biological advantage over their competitors, having been born male, the IOC rules state that as long as testosterone levels have been below a certain mark for over 12 months they are okay to compete.
Delia Johnston of the 'Trans in Sport' group said the pair had "transitioned long ago" and explained the quite depressing situation that if they were in medal positions they may purposely drop back to avoid controversy:
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"Their national sports federations are aware of their gender history. But if they were in a gold or silver medal position they would probably drop back because their fear of ridicule and total humiliation is so massive."
The two athletes are not known by either the British Olympics Association or other competing nations associations and have not yet been selected by the British Athletics association.
The IAAF don't have a good record with this kind of thing having humiliated South African middle distance runner Caster Semenya by having her go through gender testing and seen her unable to compete for 11 months.
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She was eventually 'cleared' and allowed to race against women again. Seeing as how she is a woman that seems like it was a sensible decision.
(Via Daily Record)
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