The Finnish Center for Integrity in Sports (FINCIS) treats all athletes equally, regardless of gender expression or gender identity. FINCIS’s mission is to provide everyone the right to clean sports. In order to ensure fair and equal sports for all athletes, it is important that they are aware of matters related to anti-doping activities and their related rights and obligations.
A trans person is a person whose gender identity differs from the gender defined at birth. The new Act on Legal Recognition of Gender, which has entered into force in Finland, regulates the confirmation of legal gender. In competitive sports, mere legal confirmation of gender in accordance with the new act is not a sufficient criterion for obtaining the right to participate in a competitive gender-specific series for gender other than the one defined at birth. Sports organisations must prepare rules and criteria on the basis of which the right to participate in gender-specific series is defined and granted.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published guidelines on how to take transgender athletes into account in anti-doping activities. The guidelines apply to both doping control and procedures related to prohibited substances and methods in sports and therapeutic use exemptions. These guidelines prepared by FINCIS provide brief information especially on the procedures related to transgender athletes in testing and therapeutic use exemptions.
Does FINCIS decide on the rights of transgender athletes to participate in competitions?
NO
FINCIS is not responsible for athletes’ competition or participation rights. They are the responsibility of national and international sports federations or competition organisers, who also decide on the criteria related to competition and participation rights. Sports federations and competition organisers must prepare rules and criteria for both defining and granting the right to participate in competitions.
If, according to the rules, the right to participate in a competition can be granted, for example, to a transgender woman, the criteria must determine whether there is a limit value for testosterone levels. If a limit value for testosterone levels is set in the criteria, its supervision and monitoring with regard to the right to participate in a competition is the responsibility of the sports organisation, not the anti-doping organisation.
Does FINCIS test transgender athletes?
YES
Transgender athletes with competition rights granted by a sports organisation are also subject to doping control like any other athletes subject to the Anti-Doping Rules. The doping test protocol is compliant with WADA’s International Standard for Testing and Investigations for all athletes.
Doping control is performed to detect prohibited substances and methods and it is not aimed for detecting the athlete’s potential gender transition process. Selection for a doping test is based on uniform criteria for all athletes.
How is the gender of the transgender athlete recorded on the doping control form?
The sport gender of all athletes is recorded on the doping control form. It is primarily determined by the athlete’s right to participate granted by the sports organisation or event organiser.
What gender should the doping test sampling supervisor be?
As a rule, the gender of the doping test sampling supervisor should be the same as the athlete’s sport gender. The instructions and training of FINCIS’s doping test personnel also take into account transgender athletes.
Should the doping control laboratory know that the sample was provided by a transgender athlete?
NO
The doping control laboratory will not be informed if the sample was provided by a transgender athlete as the analysis or reporting criteria do not differ for transgender athletes. Only the sport gender of all athletes is recorded on the doping control form as it is essential information for the laboratory in order to carry out analyses and reporting in accordance with the Anti-Doping Rules.
Is the Therapeutic Use Exemption procedure different for transgender athletes?
NO
FINCIS’s Therapeutic Use Exemption procedure is compliant with the requirements of WADA’s International Standard for TUEs. It is the same for all athletes who need a substance or method that is prohibited in sports. WADA has published separate guidelines on the criteria for granting exemptions to transgender athletes. FINCIS advises all athletes on the Therapeutic Use Exemption policies and requirements they are subject to.
FINCIS may grant a Therapeutic Use Exemption for prohibited substances used in gender affirming treatment. Such prohibited pharmacological substances include, for example, testosterone, spironolactone and GnRH analogues. The category in which the athlete competes or for which the athlete has been granted the right to compete affects the need for and granting of a Therapeutic Use Exemption. Athletes should contact FINCIS to clarify their situation and the need for a Therapeutic Use Exemption.
Are transgender athletes allowed to use testosterone and compete?
Exogenous testosterone is prohibited in sports at all times and its use requires a Therapeutic Use Exemption. A trans man, that is, a person who need testosterone therapy to correct his gender from female to male, can be granted an exemption for testosterone treatment only after the sports organisation has granted him the right to participate in a competition. Testosterone exemption may be granted to a trans man only if he has the right to compete in the series in question as a trans man in the said sport. Athletes should contact FINCIS to clarify their situation and the need for a Therapeutic Use Exemption.
Can laboratories detect the use of testosterone by a transgender athlete in the doping test analysis?
All doping test samples are analysed in accordance with standard procedures. If a prohibited substance is detected in the sample, the laboratory will inform FINCIS, who will then check the validity of the Therapeutic Use Exemption. If no Therapeutic Use Exemption has been granted and the athlete does not meet the criteria for retroactive exemption, FINCIS will follow a standard process for all athletes in processing positive sample results.
Are transgender athletes provided anti-doping education?
YES
FINCIS provides anti-doping education to all athletes, regardless of their gender expression or gender identity.