A Colombian court has ruled that a regional volleyball league must reverse its ban on transgender athletes, stating the policy violates constitutional rights.
The Liga Antioqueña de Voleibol – the volleyball governing body in Colombia’s Antioquia region – was ordered by the nation’s constitutional court to amend its discriminatory regulations and allow trans athletes to compete in tournaments aligned with their gender identity.
The case was brought forward by an unnamed transgender athlete who had competed in the league for over ten years. She was barred from continuing to play in women’s matches halfway through a tournament, following the league’s introduction of a policy excluding trans players.
In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, 1 October, a panel of three judges declared the league’s policy infringed on the player’s constitutional rights to dignity and equality.
Judges Natalia Ángel Cabo and José Fernando Reyes Cuartos noted there was no scientific basis for the policy, stating that athletic performance is more closely tied to “body composition,” training, and nutrition than to gender identity. They argued there was no evidence suggesting trans athletes hold an automatic competitive edge over cisgender competitors.
The court also criticised the league for basing its policy solely on sex assigned at birth rather than considering relevant factors such as hormone levels.
Judge Cristina Pardo Schlesinger abstained from voting on the final ruling.
Importantly, the trans athlete in question had already participated in four tournament matches before the policy was enacted – without any objections or reported incidents. The judges argued this undermined the justification behind the policy, especially given there were no complaints from other players and no evidence of unfair advantage.
The court ordered the league to allow the athlete to complete the tournament and to work with Colombia’s Ministry of Sport to update its regulations, ensuring no discriminatory measures against trans athletes remain in place.
Policies restricting trans athletes have become a growing issue in global sports, often driven by unverified claims of “biological advantages.” However, a 2024 study endorsed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) found that trans athletes can, in fact, face disadvantages due to hormone therapy, which can affect muscle mass and cardiovascular performance.
