In a year of record-breaking attacks on trans youth’s right to healthcare and sports in the U.S., the International Olympic Committee has released a framework that removes “medically unnecessary” hormone treatment tests.

The framework introduced yesterday, aims to promote a safe and welcoming environment for people with all gender identities in elite-level sports competitions in alignment with IOC’s commitment to respect human rights and foster gender equality.

“The aim of this Framework is to offer sporting bodies – particularly those in charge of organising elite-level competition – a 10-principle approach to help them develop the criteria that are applicable to their sport. Sports bodies will also need to consider particular ethical, social, cultural and legal aspects that may be relevant in their context,” IOC’s press release states.

This year was officially the worst in recent history for legislative attacks against trans youth -- from the 117 bills attacking transgender rights, a majority target trans youth’s access to healthcare and sports: 31 states introduced bills aimed at banning trans athletes from fully participating in sports.

“IOC notes that most high-level organised sports competitions are staged with men’s and women’s categories competing separately. In this context, the principles contained in the Framework are aimed at ensuring that competition in each of these categories is fair and safe, and that athletes are not excluded solely on the basis of their transgender identity or sex variations,” the press release reads.

The framework replaces previous guidelines that have required athletes to go through invasive hormone level tests and procedures.

These tests restrict trans and intersex athletes rights to participate in sports, and have been used in anti-Black racism — they discriminate against Black, non-trans women like Caster Semenya, while genetic differences that give cisgender white men like Micheal Phelps an advantage, are celebrated.

While IOC’s new guide is being welcomed by trans athletes, there is also concern for how it will be implemented— the decision to regulate ‘eligibility criterias’ remains with international federations on a case-to-case basis.

The framework will be rolled out after next year after the Beijing Winter Games.