Gender Policy for RunVermont Events - adapted October 2016, revised April 2024
RunVermont strives to create and foster a culture of inclusivity. Athletes will be allowed to register and participate in any RunVermont event with the gender by which they identify. RunVermont offers gender options at registration of Female, Male, Non-Binary, and Prefer Not To Say for all races.
Athletes who are competing for cash prizes or awards in the Female or Male divisions in any of RunVermont's events must comply with the current World Athletics gender policies at the time of the competition.
RunVermont supports and welcomes the participation of Transgender athletes in a manner that is consistent with the policy of the sport’s national governing body – the USA Track and Field Association, who have adopted the program that has been put forth by World Athletics. World Athletics adapted a policy on March 31, 2023 that RunVermont will follow for female and male competition which includes the following key principles:
- Transgender persons are defined as persons whose gender identity is different from their biological sex (whether they are pre or post puberty, and whether or not they have undergone any form of medical intervention).
- A Transgender Male athlete must provide a written and signed declaration that their gender identity is male.
- A Transgender Female athlete must meet all of the following criteria:
- They must provide a written and signed declaration that their gender identity is female.
- They must not have experienced any part of male puberty either beyond Tanner Stage 2 (the onset of puberty) or age 12, whichever comes first.
- Since puberty they must have continuously maintained the concentration of testosterone in their serum below 2.5 nmol/L.
- They must continue to maintain the concentration of testosterone in their serum below 2.5 nmol/L at all times for so long as they wish to remain eligible to compete in the female classification.
- Once a Transgender Athlete has satisfied the relevant eligibility requirements set out above and has started competing in the sex classification that is consistent with their gender identity, they may not then participate in the other sex classification until at least 4 years have passed and they satisfy all the conditions for eligibility to compete in the other sex classification.
RunVermont supports and welcomes the participation of Non-Binary athletes and athletes who would prefer not to disclose their gender during registration. Athletes who are competing for cash prizes or awards in the Non-Binary division of any RunVermont event may self-identify as a Non-Binary entrant at the time of entry or at a later date as controlled by any registration deadlines in place for a specific event.
Protest Policy:
Finishers have the right to protest another finisher's gender division assignment. Protest under these grounds are limited to the Female and Male divisions, and may only be filed in regards to the eligibility of an athlete in a cash prize or award finish place. All protests must be filed electronically via email with the Executive Director, Joe Connelly, and must be filed within 48 hours of the posting of complete unofficial results online. Neither party may publicly post or discuss the protest until a decision has been reached by RunVermont. Any public posts regarding the challenge before a decision has been rendered will nullify the protest. RunVermont will strive to resolve any protests of this nature within 48 hours of receipt of said protest. Any delays in the process will be communicated to the person protesting within the 48 hour time period. If you are the subject of a protest, you will need to supply documentation that aligns with the World Athletics policy to affirm your eligibility to compete in the division in question. Any and all documents submitted will be kept strictly confidentialand destroyed upon resolution of the protest.
