Transgender and Non Binary Race Policy
TRANSGENDER AND NON BINARY RUNNER POLICY
At the Noyo Headlands Race, we strive to create and foster a culture of inclusivity. While we have designed an experience that may intimidate and challenges our runners, it is also so important to us that all our participants are accepted and welcomed to our event. With this in mind, we have established a Transgender & Non-Binary Runner Policy for the Noyo Headlands Race. We would like to give a major shout out to events like The Rut Mountain Run, Western States and High Lonesome 100 for inspiring us to follow in their footsteps by adopting their policies.
Entrance Policy for Transgender Athletes
We will accept each entrant’s declared gender at face value, and no additional supporting evidence is required.
A transgender female (male-to-female) entrant can register to compete as a female, provided they have undergone continuous, medically supervised hormone treatment for gender transition for at least one year prior to the race.
A transgender male (female-to-male) entrant can register to compete as a male. Transgender male runners cannot register to compete as a female if they have begun hormone treatment for gender transition, that includes testosterone or any other banned substance (as defined by the World Antidoping Agency).
Runners may compete in the category of their sex assigned at birth if they have not undergone hormone treatment.
Transgender entrants, at their option, may provide medical documentation related to their transition to the Race Director and/or Medical Director(s) prior to the race. All information about the runner’s gender identity and medical information, including any information provided pursuant to this policy, will be kept strictly confidential.
Challenges of Results Involving Transgender Athletes
The Noyo Headlands Race has adopted this policy and the ability to challenge results out of a desire for inclusion and fairness. As such we expect all parties to behave in a manner that is honest, compassionate, and respectful. We will not tolerate hateful or discriminatory behavior by any of our runners, or those associated with the race, regardless of the cause.
Challenges may be made to results, which are directly related to a runner’s self-declared gender, only when a top 3 position is at stake. A challenge must be made in writing or email to the Race Director within 10 days of race completion and must be submitted privately and with the utmost discretion and respect for all parties involved.
Neither party may publicly post or discuss the challenge until a decision has been reached by the race. Challenges not related to a runner’s gender status, such as course cutting or other rule violations, will be handled in the normal process.
In the event of a challenge, or as deemed necessary, The Noyo Headlands Race may request supporting documentation from a medical professional. All information about the runner’s gender identity and medical information, including any information provided pursuant to this policy, will be kept strictly confidential. The Race Director, with input from the Medical Director(s), will review the relevant facts and make a final decision.
If the runner is not in compliance with this policy, they will forfeit any place positions but will retain their official finish. Any announcements made by the race will simply state whether a runner was or was not in compliance with our policy and the associated action taken by the race. We will not disclose, unless requested or allowed by the transgender runner, any medical information related to the decision.
Entrance Policy for Non-Binary Athletes
Some people feel that their gender identity cannot be simply defined by the expected binary terms of ‘man’ or ‘woman’. Instead, they experience their gender in another way. Typically, we refer to this group of people as being ‘non-binary’. The term non-binary refers to a person:
Identifying as either having a gender which is in-between or beyond the two categories ‘man’ and ‘woman’, as fluctuating between ‘man’ and ‘woman’, or as having no gender, either permanently or some of the time.
Non-binary runners will be eligible for place awards in their own category.
We plan to periodically review this policy to be sure it is up to date and equitable. Please contact race director, Karla McDonald at admin@mchfoundation.org if you have any questions, comments, or feedback.
