The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently published a framework on fairness, inclusion, ... more The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently published a framework on fairness, inclusion, and nondiscrimination on the basis of gender identity and sex variations. Although we appreciate the IOC's recognition of the role of sports science and medicine in policy development, we disagree with the assertion that the
This book gives a novel account of theories, concepts and arguments in poltical philosophy. Both ... more This book gives a novel account of theories, concepts and arguments in poltical philosophy. Both topical and historical, Political Philosophy A-Z has entries on Hobbes, Marx, and Rorty, as well as entries which explain what 'contract theory' is, and gives an account of 'multi-culturalism.' This book guides the reader through the intricacies of political theory, enabling them to trace their way through a debate, fixing historical and theoretical points of reference along the way.
In this paper I discuss a new conception that has arrived relatively recently on the scene, in th... more In this paper I discuss a new conception that has arrived relatively recently on the scene, in the context of the debate over the inclusion of transwomen (hereafter TW) in female sport. That conception is 'Meaningful Competition'(hereafter MC)a term used by some of those who advocate for the inclusion of TW in female sport iff they reduce their testosterone levels. I will argue that MC is not fair. I understand MC as a substitute concept, as an attempt to substitute for the perfectly serviceable concept of fair competition. It is an attempt at conceptual engineering that should be resisted. This is important because some International Federations have accepted MC as good coin, and the underlying theory of MC, which I explicate for the first time, underpins the stance taken by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) in its Framework Document. To establish that the inclusion of TW in female sport meets the criteria of MC in the sense I explicate here, does not show that the inclusion of TW in female sport is fair. Such inclusion is not fair, and the proper currency of sport is fair competition. 'Meaningful Competition', on the other hand, is a snare and a delusion.
This chapter discusses the case of Femke Van den Dreissche, Belgian cyclo-cross rider caught with... more This chapter discusses the case of Femke Van den Dreissche, Belgian cyclo-cross rider caught with an electronic motor concealed in her bike. I use the case to open up discussion of the purported similarities between doping and 'mechanical doping'. Should our intuitions about what is morally wrong with using an electronic bike line up with out intuitions about what is wrong with using performance enhancing drugs in competitive sports? I consider several purported differences. I claim that cycling would cease to be cycling if pedalling became peripheral. Cycling therefore has a local essence, just as football has a local essence - and the activity changes when handling and throwing the ball is allowed. Since cycling is about pedalling, we need criteria of pedalling well, and these criteria exclude pedalling whilst on PEDs. Hence there is a non-conventional reason for forbidding their use.
In this paper I discuss a new conception that has arrived relatively recently on the scene, in th... more In this paper I discuss a new conception that has arrived relatively recently on the scene, in the context of the debate over the inclusion of transwomen (hereafter TW) in female sport. That conception is 'Meaningful Competition'(hereafter MC)a term used by some of those who advocate for the inclusion of TW in female sport iff they reduce their testosterone levels. I will argue that MC is not fair. I understand MC as a substitute concept, as an attempt to substitute for the perfectly serviceable concept of fair competition. It is an attempt at conceptual engineering that should be resisted. This is important because some International Federations have accepted MC as good coin, and the underlying theory of MC, which I explicate for the first time, underpins the stance taken by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) in its Framework Document. To establish that the inclusion of TW in female sport meets the criteria of MC in the sense I explicate here, does not show that the inclusion of TW in female sport is fair. Such inclusion is not fair, and the proper currency of sport is fair competition. 'Meaningful Competition', on the other hand, is a snare and a delusion.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently published a framework on fairness, inclusion, ... more The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently published a framework on fairness, inclusion, and nondiscrimination on the basis of gender identity and sex variations. Although we appreciate the IOC's recognition of the role of sports science and medicine in policy development, we disagree with the assertion that the
This book gives a novel account of theories, concepts and arguments in poltical philosophy. Both ... more This book gives a novel account of theories, concepts and arguments in poltical philosophy. Both topical and historical, Political Philosophy A-Z has entries on Hobbes, Marx, and Rorty, as well as entries which explain what 'contract theory' is, and gives an account of 'multi-culturalism.' This book guides the reader through the intricacies of political theory, enabling them to trace their way through a debate, fixing historical and theoretical points of reference along the way.
In this paper I discuss a new conception that has arrived relatively recently on the scene, in th... more In this paper I discuss a new conception that has arrived relatively recently on the scene, in the context of the debate over the inclusion of transwomen (hereafter TW) in female sport. That conception is 'Meaningful Competition'(hereafter MC)a term used by some of those who advocate for the inclusion of TW in female sport iff they reduce their testosterone levels. I will argue that MC is not fair. I understand MC as a substitute concept, as an attempt to substitute for the perfectly serviceable concept of fair competition. It is an attempt at conceptual engineering that should be resisted. This is important because some International Federations have accepted MC as good coin, and the underlying theory of MC, which I explicate for the first time, underpins the stance taken by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) in its Framework Document. To establish that the inclusion of TW in female sport meets the criteria of MC in the sense I explicate here, does not show that the inclusion of TW in female sport is fair. Such inclusion is not fair, and the proper currency of sport is fair competition. 'Meaningful Competition', on the other hand, is a snare and a delusion.
This chapter discusses the case of Femke Van den Dreissche, Belgian cyclo-cross rider caught with... more This chapter discusses the case of Femke Van den Dreissche, Belgian cyclo-cross rider caught with an electronic motor concealed in her bike. I use the case to open up discussion of the purported similarities between doping and 'mechanical doping'. Should our intuitions about what is morally wrong with using an electronic bike line up with out intuitions about what is wrong with using performance enhancing drugs in competitive sports? I consider several purported differences. I claim that cycling would cease to be cycling if pedalling became peripheral. Cycling therefore has a local essence, just as football has a local essence - and the activity changes when handling and throwing the ball is allowed. Since cycling is about pedalling, we need criteria of pedalling well, and these criteria exclude pedalling whilst on PEDs. Hence there is a non-conventional reason for forbidding their use.
In this paper I discuss a new conception that has arrived relatively recently on the scene, in th... more In this paper I discuss a new conception that has arrived relatively recently on the scene, in the context of the debate over the inclusion of transwomen (hereafter TW) in female sport. That conception is 'Meaningful Competition'(hereafter MC)a term used by some of those who advocate for the inclusion of TW in female sport iff they reduce their testosterone levels. I will argue that MC is not fair. I understand MC as a substitute concept, as an attempt to substitute for the perfectly serviceable concept of fair competition. It is an attempt at conceptual engineering that should be resisted. This is important because some International Federations have accepted MC as good coin, and the underlying theory of MC, which I explicate for the first time, underpins the stance taken by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) in its Framework Document. To establish that the inclusion of TW in female sport meets the criteria of MC in the sense I explicate here, does not show that the inclusion of TW in female sport is fair. Such inclusion is not fair, and the proper currency of sport is fair competition. 'Meaningful Competition', on the other hand, is a snare and a delusion.
In this paper I discuss a new conception that has arrived relatively recently on the scene, in th... more In this paper I discuss a new conception that has arrived relatively recently on the scene, in the context of the debate over the inclusion of transwomen (hereafter TW) in female sport. That conception is 'Meaningful Competition'(hereafter MC)a term used by some of those who advocate for the inclusion of TW in female sport iff they reduce their testosterone levels. I will argue that MC is not fair. I understand MC as a substitute concept, as an attempt to substitute for the perfectly serviceable concept of fair competition. It is an attempt at conceptual engineering that should be resisted. This is important because some International Federations have accepted MC as good coin, and the underlying theory of MC, which I explicate for the first time, underpins the stance taken by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) in its Framework Document. To establish that the inclusion of TW in female sport meets the criteria of MC in the sense I explicate here, does not show that the inclusion of TW in female sport is fair. Such inclusion is not fair, and the proper currency of sport is fair competition. 'Meaningful Competition', on the other hand, is a snare and a delusion.
There are hypothetical situations in which trans-inclusion might be fair, but no actual ones, giv... more There are hypothetical situations in which trans-inclusion might be fair, but no actual ones, given the state of current scientific knowledge. 1.1 THE PLACE OF FAIRNESS In the judgement of the IOC, fairness seems to have an overriding status. This, at least, is the approach taken in its consensus statement: "The overriding sporting objective is and remains the guarantee of fair competition. Restrictions on participation are appropriate to the extent that they are necessary and proportionate to the achievement of that objective." (My italics) (International Olympic Committee 2015 (International Olympic Committee 2015)) The important thing to see here is the difference between an overriding aim, and 'balancing' two values, fairness and inclusion, against each other. So, fair competition can override inclusion: we 'do' fair competition first, and then inclusivity within, and after that.
This is my response to the RFU consultation on the RFU TRANSGENDER POLICY PROPOSAL
I think it wi... more This is my response to the RFU consultation on the RFU TRANSGENDER POLICY PROPOSAL I think it will also be posted on sexmatters.org.uk
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