Statement on Updates to World Rowing's Gender Eligibility Standards

World Rowing announced updates to its gender eligibility standards on February 14, 2023, through a change to its bylaws. The previous standards for competition at a World Rowing regatta or a qualification regatta for the Olympic, Paralympic, or Youth Olympic Games required that:

rowers compete in the gender category consistent with the gender on their passport or national identity card; and

rowers competing in the women's category maintain a continuous serum testosterone level of 5 nmol/liter or less for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the relevant competition.

The new standards require that:

As a general guideline, a rower who has changed their gender, or intends to do so, and seeks to be determined as eligible to compete as a woman, will be required:

First, to satisfy the Gender Advisory Panel that the rower's serum testosterone concentration has been less than 2.5 nmol/L continuously for a period of at least the previous 24 months; and

Secondly, meet any other requirements reasonably set by the Gender Advisory Panel and endorsed by the Executive Committee.

Considering this World Rowing change, USRowing is updating our Gender Identity Policy as follows:

Effective immediately, rowers competing for the United States at World Rowing regattas or qualification regattas are subject to the new World Rowing standards;

Effective March 1, 2025, collegiate rowers competing in NCAA or IRA women's categories must maintain a continuous serum testosterone level of 2.5 nmol/liter or less for at least 24 consecutive months prior to any competition as a member of their collegiate team; and

Until March 1, 2025, USRowing's current policy for these collegiate rowers remains a continuous serum testosterone level of 5 nmol/liter or less for at least 12 consecutive months prior to any competition as a member of their collegiate team. This postponement allows for impacted athletes to continue competing, while they determine whether to meet the new standard.

The USRowing Gender Identity Policy remains unchanged for Youth and Adult rowers not competing at the elite level or at the NCAA or IRA collegiate level, who can participate "in a rowing activity in accordance with such athlete's expressed gender identity."

Beyond this change at the collegiate level, we will review our Gender Identity Policy annually, or more frequently as merited by clarification of additional requirements approved by the World Rowing Executive Committee, as we look to balance fairness and inclusion across all levels of sport. To learn more, please review the FAQs here.