The rulebook for the 2019 CrossFit Season has now been published, and there have been many updates from the previous year.

2019 signals big changes for the CrossFit season, and one of the most forward thinking is the full inclusion of transgender athletes.

CrossFit has always been an inclusive sport, founded on principles of fairness and equality between sexes.

“In the 2019 CrossFit competitive season, starting with the Open, transgender athletes are welcome to participate in the division with which they identify,” said Greg Glassman. “This is the right thing to do. CrossFit believes in the potential, capacity, and dignity of every athlete. We are proud of our LGBT community, including our transgender athletes, and we want you here with us.”

In 2018, Russ Berger was fired from the company for his intolerant views against the LGBTQ community.

Russell Berger is Fired from CrossFit HQ For Saying LGBTQ Pride is a Sin

Greg Glassman has been outspoken about his support for making CrossFit accessible to all.

The following text is from the Official 2019 CrossFit Games Rulebook.

THE OFFICIAL RULES

CrossFit is committed to ensuring that all CrossFit athletes have equal access and opportunities to participate in CrossFit events in a manner that is fair to all competitors while preserving the integrity of the sport. Transgender athletes are welcome to participate in the CrossFit Games in accordance with the requirements set forth below.

6.02 – PARTICIPATION IN THE OPEN

All athletes may select their gender. Athletes who register in a gender category other than the gender assigned to them at birth, or different than

the gender by which they have identified on CrossFit’s website, are representing to CrossFit that:

Their gender in their everyday life matches their registration gender.

They have obtained civil documents with their registration gender identified. (e.g., state ID or driver’s license).

Athletes who cannot meet the criteria above may provide medical or other evidence satisfactory to CrossFit establishing that they self-identify

as the gender stated in their registration.

6.03 – PARTICIPATION IN EVENTS OTHER THAN THE OPEN (E.G., THE ONLINE QUALIFIER AND THE GAMES)

Transgender males: Athletes who transition from female to male must satisfy the requirements set forth in section 6.02 above.

Transgender females: Athletes who transition from male to female must satisfy the requirements set forth in section 6.02 above and meet the

following requirements:

i. Athletes must, prior to competing in the Online Qualifier or confirming their participation in the Games, contact

support@crossfitgames. com to receive a Declaration Form to complete, declaring that their gender identity is female. That declaration

cannot be changed, for any sporting purpose, for a minimum of four years.

ii. Athletes must demonstrate that their total testosterone level in serum has been below 10 nmol/L for at least 12 months prior to their first

CrossFit competition (with the requirement for any longer period to be based on a confidential case-by-case evaluation by CrossFit, considering whether or not 12 months is a sufficient length of time to minimize any advantage in women’s competition).

iii. The athlete’s total testosterone level must remain below the 10 nmol/L throughout the period of desired eligibility to compete in the female

category.

iv. The information provided by the athlete in sections (i)-(iii) above will be reviewed by CrossFit, which shall determine, in its sole discretion,

whether the athlete will be allowed to participate as a female.

v. Compliance with these requirements may be monitored by CrossFit through additional serum testing. In the event of non-compliance,

the athlete’s eligibility for female competition will be suspended for 12 months. An in-competition report of a serum total testosterone

level ≥ 10 nmol/L will, subject to section 6.04, result in the disqualification of the results of that competition and the return of any prize

money or awards.¹

For more updates from the new CrossFit rulebook, check out this article:

2019 CrossFit Rulebook: 6 Important Changes You Need to Know About

¹Copyright © 2019 CrossFit Inc. All Rights Reserved. CrossFit is a registered trademark ® of CrossFit Inc [ 22 ] COMPETITION RULEBOOK