Rio 2016: Olympic body changes transgender guidelines- Day media

A sculpture representing people carrying the Olympics rings at the IOC's Lausanne offices.

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

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.

Medical chiefs at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have recommended the change which could mean transgender athletes would be more readily able to take part in this summer's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro as well as other international events.

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.