Who is responsible for writing the upcoming policy?
Following guidance from the Board of Directors, a dedicated Transgender Athlete Participation Policy revision group is ultimately responsible for drafting a new policy, which will then return to the Board for final approval. The revision group includes the USA Climbing VP of Sport and individuals representing DEI, medical, rules, and the trans, non-binary and/or intersex community.
How will the upcoming policy address the previous concerns of members and trans climbers?
In working towards a new policy, USA Climbing hosted a feedback survey for members, offered listening sessions hosted by trans facilitators, and added members of the trans, nonbinary, and/or intersex community to the policy revision group, all to better understand concerns from the community.
In July 2025, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) notified all National Governing Bodies that their policies must comply with Executive Order 14201 and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act.
Will H.R. 28 impact the upcoming policy?
No, USA Climbing does not receive federal funding and is not directly impacted by Title IX or H.R. 28. However, USA Climbing continues to monitor the situation and acknowledges that international competition may be governed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), and the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC).
Will the recent Executive Orders impact USA Climbing events?
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) recently updated its Athlete Safety Policy, requiring all National Governing Bodies “to ensure that women have a fair and safe competition environment consistent with Executive Order 14201 and the Ted Stevens Olympic & Amateur Sports Act.”
When will the upcoming policy go into effect?
USA Climbing will share a new TAP Policy as soon as possible, as required by the USOPC.
Will USA Climbing publicly identify transgender athletes?
Moving forward, National Team Ineligible athletes will no longer be identified with a status indicator next to their name. Instead, start lists will simply indicate how many athletes have the potential to create extra advancement in the category.
How do I stay updated?
The current status of the TAP policy, as well as policy resources, can be found on the Transgender Athlete Participation page of the USA Climbing website.
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