CrossFit Reverses Gender Policy

The New CrossFit Season Rulebook: A Shift in Gender Classification Policy

When the 2025 CrossFit Season Rulebook was released last month, one of the many changes mentioned near the end included a new "Gender Classification Policy" that requires athletes to compete according to their gender assigned at birth.

The new policy is a significant departure from the "Transgender Policy" that has existed in the CrossFit Games Rulebook every year since 2019. The 2025 policy does not use the word "transgender."

Section 9.02 of the 2025 CrossFit Games Rulebook states, "All athletes are welcome to participate in CrossFit Games events. However, to maintain fairness and the integrity of the competition, athletes must compete in the division corresponding to their gender assigned at birth."

This policy is in stark contrast to the "Transgender Policy" that has existed in the CrossFit Games Rulebook every year since 2019. The new policy does not provide any exceptions for legal, medical, or personal documentation that reflects a gender other than the athlete’s gender assigned at birth.

Medical Exception

The 2025 policy does, however, make an exception for individuals with a disorder of sex development (DSD). In these cases, determinations will be made on an individual basis and may include classification for competition in a division other than the gender assigned at birth.

Challenges to an Athlete’s Gender Classification

Any athlete may confidentially challenge the eligibility of another athlete under this policy by submitting a written request to support@crossfitgames.com. CrossFit reserves the right to request verification of an athlete’s gender assigned at birth to ensure compliance with this policy, and all challenges will be reviewed and resolved in a manner that prioritizes athlete privacy.

Remind Me

In 2019, the CrossFit Games Rulebook introduced a "Transgender Policy," which stated that CrossFit is committed to ensuring that all CrossFit athletes have equal access and opportunities to participate in CrossFit events in a manner that is fair to all competitors while preserving the integrity of the sport.

The details of the 2019 policy were as follows: All athletes may select their gender. Athletes who choose to register and compete in a gender category other than the one assigned to them at birth were simply asked to compete as the gender they identify with "in their everyday life." Additionally, transgender athletes also had to show CrossFit "they have obtained civil documents with their registration gender identified," such as a driver’s license or state ID.

One Big Thing

The rule change is controversial, and according to KQED, it has led to two gyms in Oakland, CA — Brightside Barbell and Pacific Strength — de-affiliating from CrossFit. In the case of Brightside Barbell, owner C.E. Brooks said the new rule means half his membership won’t be able to compete in the Open.

The Out Foundation (of which Greg Glassman was an initial and major donor) started a Change.org petition with the header "Tell CrossFit to Change Their Exclusionary Gender Classification Policy."

Conclusion

CrossFit’s rule change is a significant departure from their previous stance on transgender athletes and gender classification. The new policy requires athletes to compete according to their gender assigned at birth, with only limited exceptions for individuals with a disorder of sex development. The change has sparked controversy, with some gyms and athletes de-affiliating from CrossFit in protest.

FAQs

• What is the new CrossFit Games Rulebook policy on gender classification?
  The 2025 policy requires athletes to compete according to their gender assigned at birth, with limited exceptions for individuals with a disorder of sex development.
• What is the difference between the 2025 policy and the 2019 Transgender Policy?
  The 2025 policy does not use the word "transgender" and does not provide exceptions for legal, medical, or personal documentation that reflects a gender other than the athlete’s gender assigned at birth.
• What are the implications of the new policy for transgender athletes?
  The new policy may limit the opportunities for transgender athletes to compete in the division that aligns with their gender identity.
• What is the reaction to the new policy?
  The policy has been met with controversy, with some gyms and athletes de-affiliating from CrossFit in protest.