The ISA and the WSL are currently reviewing their policies given the federal mandates. Photo: Pablo Jimenez // ISA
The Trump Administration has successfully shaped transgender sports policy via the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). However, surfing’s principal U.S.-based institutions, the World Surf League (WSL) and International Surfing Association (ISA), haven’t capitulated to an executive order that calls for a ban of transgender women competing in women’s sports.
In July the New York Times reported that the USOPC updated its athlete safety policy to reflect Trump’s executive order 14201 issued in February titled, “Keeping men out of women’s sports.” The small, but significant amendment added two sentences to the 27-page document stating, “The USOPC will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders with oversight responsibilities…to ensure that women have a fair and safe competition environment consistent with Executive Order 14201 and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act…”
In a letter sent to the “Team USA Community,” USOPC conceded that they are at the mercy of the federal government if they are to keep receiving funding. “As a federally chartered organization, we have an obligation to comply with federal expectations,” the letter states.
The USOPC policy will filter to its national federations, which are responsible for fielding teams to compete in Olympic qualifying events. This includes the national surfing team, which is currently undergoing a process to determine which organization will govern it. Previously, the USOPC had allowed each federation to set its own transgender policy.
USA Fencing has already updated its transgender policy to reflect this new reality, stating that they “have no choice but to change the rules” after the USOPC changes.
When the WSL and ISA were reached for comment, neither indicated that Trump’s executive order will play a factor in their decision making. However, both acknowledged that their policies are under review.
“The ISA Medical Commission, in consultation with international subject-matter experts, is currently reviewing the ISA Transgender Policy with a view to making a recommendation to the ISA Executive Committee in September,” an ISA spokesperson said over email.
The WSL said that they don’t have any updates, but that they are “constantly reviewing these policies.”
In 2023, the WSL announced that it was adopting the ISA’s transgender policy. The policy allows for athletes assigned male at birth to compete in women’s division if they can maintain a testosterone level less than 5 nmol/L (nanomoles per liter) continuously for the previous 12 months before an event.
The policy was among the most lenient of Olympic sports that had released transgender testosterone thresholds. It aligned with the regulations that had been set in rowing and tennis, while other sports like triathlon and cycling created more demanding criteria. Swimming and rugby implemented policies that essentially ban transgender women from women’s divisions.
The International Olympic Committee does not have a blanket policy for its international federations. Its current directive allows each international federation to form its own policy. This could change under the organization’s new leadership, Kirsty Coventry, a former Olympic swimmer and former ISA vice president, given she’s been vocal about her position on protecting women’s sports.
It will be telling to see what changes – if any – the ISA Medical Commission proposes in September. On paper, it can be problematic for Olympic surfing if some teams are allowed to field transgender women in women’s division and others are not. In practice, however, it won’t be an imminent problem because there aren’t any transgender women currently contending to qualify for their national shortboard teams. That said, the WSL will likely mirror any changes in the ISA’s transgender policy in order to keep the Championship Tour as a part of the Olympic qualification system.
