Story highlights IOC says transgender athletes should be able to compete at the Olympics without surgery

Under previous guidelines, athletes had to undergo gender reassignment surgery

Issue under spotlight after Olympic champion Bruce Jenner's sex change

"I think we did it! I think it's official!" says transgender athlete Chris Mosier

(CNN) The issue of transgender athletes recently gained wider global attention when Bruce Jenner, the 1976 Olympic decathlon champion, announced he had undergone gender reassignment surgery and was now living as a woman, Caitlyn Jenner.

Now transgender athletes look set to compete at the Olympic Games for the first time without first having to undergo gender reassignment surgery.

Transgender athletes have been allowed to compete at the Games since 2004 but only after surgery, having undergone a minimum of two years hormone therapy and being legally recognized as their changed gender.

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Headed by Professor Ugur Erdener, the IOC medical hearing's findings said that, "it is necessary to ensure in so far as possible that trans athletes are not excluded from the opportunity to participate in sporting competition," while still ensuring "the guarantee of fair competition."