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Coe is one of seven contenders aiming to succeed Thomas Bach as president of the International Olympic Committee, the most influential position in global sports.
The issue of transgender athletes has recently come to the forefront, even being mentioned during US President Donald Trump's pre-inauguration rally earlier this month, with Trump referencing transgender individuals.
For me, the essence of integrity in elite women's sports is extremely crucial because if that principle is compromised, then the very foundation of women's sports will be lost. Something I am not willing to accept.
In his campaign manifesto, Coe explicitly states his intention to "protect and promote" the female category, indicating that inclusion will not take precedence over fairness. As president of World Athletics, he made the decision to ban transgender athletes who have undergone male puberty from elite women's competition.
However, the 68-year-old refrained from declaring that he would impose an all-encompassing ban on the Olympics, if elected as IOC president on March 20.
That will, of course, be a conversation for international sports governing bodies," he said. "The way I've always approached things is through collaboration. While the international governing bodies and national Olympic committees have ultimate authority over policies, it is crucial that the International Olympic Committee provide leadership and guidance in this area.
I believe the guidelines need to be straightforward and are not so. As a result, many international federations have been left in a state of confusion.
Should the Olympics Bring Back Sex Testing?
Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan and another athlete — both of whom the International Olympic Committee stated were born and raised as female — were reported to have failed undisclosed gender tests in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Critics of the current regulations have requested the reinstatement of sexually determining tests, a practice that was discontinued at the Olympics before the Sydney Games in 2000.
Referring to what occurred in Paris, Coe said: "The examples that we've seen in the past are examples that we shouldn't have had to face." He declined to discuss any specifics of sex testing, however.
There must be an evaluation and confirmation, but of course, that has to be done within agreed medical standards and procedures at both a global and international level,
Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order stating that the United States government will now only acknowledge two sexes – male and female – and that these are "not changeable."
In response to that assertion, Coe stated it was not his role "to make judgements about the way anyone chooses to live their life".
If you wish to decide what is morally right, then you should refrain from elected positions, instead choose a career in the clergy.
I don't have a philosophical stance nor the authority to ban, nor do I wish to prevent transgender athletes from competing and experiencing the thrill of sports competition. However, in elite women's competitions, that is where we have taken a firm stance, and the distinction is clear-cut.
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Coe, a gold medalist in the 1,500 meters at the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games, boasts an impressive portfolio in sports administration. A former chairman of the British Olympic Association, he led London's successful 2012 Olympic bid before becoming the head of World Athletics, previously known as the IAAF, in 2015.
If he is appointed head of the IOC, he will need to address several critical issues, including Russia's participation in international sports amidst the ongoing Ukrainian conflict, the strained relationship between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the US government, and the impact of climate change on the Olympic schedule.
Asked if he could guarantee that there would be no Russian athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics under his watch if the war continued, Coe replied: "I think that's a settled position with me."
Coe is more supportive in the matter of WADA, stating, "I have confidence" in the troubled organization.
The US government has stopped providing funding to WADA after allegations surfaced that it assisted in concealing the positive doping test results of 23 Chinese athletes prior to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. This accreditation came to light last year and ignited a fierce dispute between the United States and WADA.
It is crucial for governments to back WADA's objectives," Coe said. "It is absolutely crucial that our collaboration with WADA is viewed within a much larger context. It's really about upholding the integrity of sports. We have faith in the way we work with WADA, and I see no reason to question that partnership going forward.
Climate change poses a challenge to the Olympic calendar.
Coe expressed his willingness to consider alternative dates for the Summer Olympics.
Sport is not completely isolated," he said. "My sport relies on endurance competitions, and if we genuinely care about the well-being of our athletes, we cannot continue to expose them to extreme heat during the summer. This applies not just to the Gulf, Asia, India, or South America, but it's a global challenge we face.
Edited by: Matt Pearson
Author: Jonathan Crane (Lausanne)