Kristen Worley

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WORLD SPORTS LAW REPORT (UK) Volume 8, ISSUE 2 February 2010 Publishes The Coalition of Athletes For Inclusion in Sport, “Alternative Policy” to Gender Verification Testing of women athletes.

Comment: An alternative to the IOC’s gender testing policy The Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport has recently provided the International Olympic Committee with an alternative to its Gender Policy. Kristen Worley, Co-Founder of the Coalition, explains why an alternative is needed as well as its proposed alternative.

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Published – February 2010

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Learn More About – WORLD SPORTS LAW REPORT (UK) Volume 8, ISSUE 2,
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Key References

The Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport – Position Statement
“Click Here”
The Guiding Principles for Inclusion in Sport

* Presented to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) January 7th, 2010

Goto Online Petition and let the IOC here your Athletes Voice
“Click Here”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 25, 2010

Sport leaders request that random gender verification testing of female athletes at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver be prohibited

Toronto, Canada: The Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport requests that the organizing committee of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games prohibit random gender verification testing of female athletes at the Games, in the best interest of all international female athletes.

“The statements from the IOC following its Gender Summit in Miami in January 2010 do not demonstrate any intent by the IOC to eliminate the inequities and discriminatory impact of gender testing in sport. By classifying gender ambiguities as disorders requiring treatment, the IOC is pathologizing a normal spectrum of humanity. By assuming that the only relevant gender issue is in women’s events, the IOC ignores the potential advantage of physical characteristics associated with the female form (flexibility, for example) to men in certain sports. In addition, the IOC policy is excessively discretionary and subjective in that the IOC does not state what criteria are relevant to a determination of “male” or “female”. By subjecting only certain women to the policy, the IOC also leaves women open to witch hunts and being requested to undergo body modification. By any standard, the IOC’s approach is a violation of international laws prohibiting gender discrimination and the IOC’s own commitment to equality and the right to play. We continue to urge the IOC to adopt the proposed gender policy alternative of the Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion. ”

Gender verification testing is a violation of human rights, specifically the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It also violates the Olympic Movement’s stated commitments to equality and the right to play.

To Read Entire Press Release Document – “Click Here” to Download
Published – January 2010

Key References

The Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport – Position Statement
The Guiding Principles for Inclusion in Sport
* Presented to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) January 7th, 2010

Goto Online Petition and let the IOC here your Athletes Voice “Click Here”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2010
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Sport leaders say ‘no more’ to IOC gender discrimination

Toronto, Canada: The Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport has released the official alternative to the current International Olympic Committee (IOC) Gender Policy. Kristen Worley is a Canadian high performance track cyclist who has been speaking publicly on the issues of gender discrimination and the treatment of gender variant athletes and has recently taken on a new role as a co-founder of the Coalition.

“Gender is not a black and white issue,” remarks Worley, “and the treatment that some athletes have endured in the name of proving one’s gender is so far removed from the spirit of the Olympic movement of modern day. As an athlete who has experienced the challenges of the current antiquated policy it is just thrilling to see this group come together and develop a sound alternative.”

The Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport was formed in 2009 to address the IOC Gender Policy. In addition to gender equity, the Coalition seeks a sport system that is open to all people, at all levels of participation recognizing in particular those previously excluded from the narrow definition of what is assumed normal human development.

The release of the position statement coincides with the IOC Gender Summit which will be taking place on January 16th, 2010 in Miami. With only a few short weeks before the opening of the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, the Coalition is hopeful that sport leaders take note and join together finally saying ‘no more’ to archaic and discriminatory practices in the name of fair play.

To Read Entire Press Release Document – “Click Here” to Download
Published – January 2010
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Key References

The Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport – Position Statement
The Guiding Principles for Inclusion in Sport
* Presented to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) January 7th, 2010

Goto Online Petition and let the IOC here your Athletes Voice “Click Here”
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The Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport – Position Statement
The Guiding Principles for Inclusion in Sport

* Presented to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) January 7th, 2010

We seek equity of opportunity in sport – a “level playing field” so that each person can compete against the other fairly.

We seek to assure that an inclusive sport system is open to all people, at all levels of participation. We believe that the rules of organized sport have for too long marginalized or excluded people for reasons other than their athletic ability.

Because we value sport, we seek inclusion for the maximum number of people in sport, particularly for those excluded from the narrow definition of what is assumed normal human development.

Contributors to Development of Document -
Ms. Ann Peel – Canada
Ms. Kristen Worley – Canada
Mr. Eli Wolff- United States of America

As the “OFFICIAL ALTERNATIVE“ to Current IOC Gender Policy – in direct response and concern of the forthcoming “IOC Gender Summit” January 16th, in Miami Florida.

The Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport – Position Statement
The Guiding Principles for Inclusion in Sport

We seek equity of opportunity in sport – a “level playing field” so that each person can compete against the other fairly.

We seek to assure that an inclusive sport system is open to all people, at all levels of participation. We believe that the rules of organized sport have for too long marginalized or excluded people for reasons other than their athletic ability.

Because we value sport, we seek inclusion for the maximum number of people in sport, particularly for those excluded from the narrow definition of what is assumed normal human development.

To Read Entire Document – “Click Here” to Download
Published – January 2010

The Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport advocates an inclusive sport system open to all people, at all levels of participation. We believe that the rules of organized sport have for too long marginalized or excluded people for reasons other than their athletic ability.

In January the International Olympic Committee is hosting a summit on gender and sport. Recently, the IOC has made decisions that have a very negative impact on women. The decision to exclude female ski jumpers at the Vancouver Olympic Games, thus requiring Canada to host an event that discriminates on the basis of gender in a country in which gender discrimination is prohibited, is very discouraging to Canadians whose laws will be violated.

Goto Online Petition and let the IOC here your Athletes Voice “Click Here”

In addition, the IOC’s long history of persecuting women who do not fit the IOC’s narrow definition of gender, has a humiliating and extremely upsetting impact on these women and is a violation of their dignity.

As athletes committed to inclusive sport and the shared values of the Olympic movement, and to human compassion for all living beings, we urge the IOC to commit to equitable and inclusive sport processes, that do not marginalize a person based on culture, sexuality, gender, physical ability or any other factor that is irrelevant to a person’s actual (rather than assumed) ability to participate in sport.

We request that the IOC work with and listen to international professionals inrelevant fields of expertise, international and national sport governing bodies, women’s and men’s organizations, and athletes who have been marginalized and effected by policies created by the IOC. IOC policies directly effect athletes lives, and their participation in high performance sport.

Because of the IOC’s accountability to sport and its participants, we urge the IOC to ensure complete transparency of any policy that directly affect the development and assurance of equitable sport. As the Coalition of Athletes for Inclusion in Sport, we seek to assure a sport system that is inclusive, safe and sustainable. We urge the IOC to aspire to similar goals that truly reflect the evolution of the Olympic Movement and its values in modern society.

Goto Online Petition and let the IOC here your Athletes Voice “Click Here“

Published December 2009

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University of Toronto, City-Wide Sports Medicine Rounds

Gender and Sport: Addressing the Needs of Our Athletes
December 11th, 2009, 7:30 am – 9:00 am

Speakers: Dr. Caroline Fusco, Kristen Worley and Dr. Chris Cavacuiti

Moderator: Dr. Lee Schofield

Download PDF Poster – “Click Here”