Additional reporting by Joe Genetin-Pilawa
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.
Although it was not described as a replacement for CrossFit’s longstanding “Transgender Policy,” that policy is no longer in the rulebook.
- Specifically, “Section 9.01 – Gender Classification Policy” 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.” (Emphasis in the original)
- “Section 9.02 – Participation in All Stage of Competition” clarifies further that “Athletes must register and compete in the gender division corresponding to their gender assigned at birth for all stages of the CrossFit Games, including the Open, Community Cup, Semifinals, In-Person Qualifying Events, and Finals.”
This rule is in stark contrast to the “Transgender Policy” that has existed in the CrossFit Games Rulebook every year since 2019.
The new policy for 2025 does not use the word “transgender.” Section 9.02 goes on to state, “This policy applies universally, and no exceptions will be granted based on legal, medical (except as noted below), or personal documentation that reflects a gender other than the athlete’s gender assigned at birth.”
- The medical exception noted above in Section 9.02 of the 2025 CrossFit Games Rulebook says that: “In the rare case of a disorder of sex development (DSD; also referred to as an intersex condition), determinations will be made on an individual basis and may include classification for competition in a division other than the gender assigned at birth.”
- For more on DSDs, see this article from the Cleveland Clinic’s Health Library.
Finally, “Section 9.03 — Challenges to an Athlete’s Gender Classification” states: “Any athlete may confidentially challenge the eligibility of another athlete under this policy by submitting a written request to support@crossfitgames.com.”
- Additionally, the rule notes that “CrossFit reserves the right to request verification of an athlete’s gender assigned at birth to ensure compliance with this policy” and that 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.” (“Section 6.01 — Transgender Policy”)
The details: “Section 6.02 – Participation in the Open” stated: “All athletes may select their gender.”
- The policy says that 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.”
- Further, 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.
As long as the competitor satisfied those two requirements, they were eligible to compete in the CrossFit Open and even qualify for the CrossFit Games in whichever division they chose. This policy stayed in place through the 2024 season.
- The policy further clarified, though, in “Section 6.03 — Participation in Events Other Than the Open (e.g., The Online Qualifier and the Games)” that athletes who “transition from female to male” were only required to meet the specifications in 6.02, while athletes who “transition from male to female” had additional requirements, including maximum allowable testosterone levels.
Worth noting: Greg Glassman, CrossFit’s founder, CEO, and owner at the time, was vocally supportive of the 2019 policy, announcing it at a “Big Gay Happy Hour” at Woof’s Bar, a gay sports bar in Madison, WI.
- “This is the right thing to do. CrossFit believes in the potential, capacity, and dignity of every athlete. We are proud of our LGBT community, including our transgender athletes, and we want you here with us,” Glassman said.
Further, in 2014, transgender athlete Chloie Jonsson filed a $2.5 million discrimination lawsuit against CrossFit after she was denied the opportunity to compete as a woman.
The suit was eventually settled out of court, and, according to a 2019 article in The Advocate, Glassman said: “It was embarrassing…I wanted to tell Chloie that I don’t care what box you check. It should be entirely up to you.”
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.
On Jan. 19, 2025, 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.”
At the time of this article’s publication, it had more than 1,200 signatures. A separate Change.org petition started on January 22 has over 600 signatures.
- Green Mountain CrossFit in Barre, VT, submitted this statement to CrossFit HQ and published it on January 15, 2025. The letter reads, “The implementation of this policy is a pretty strong deterrent for Green Mountain CrossFit’s promotion of and participation in the 2025 CrossFit Open.”
The Big Picture
CrossFit’s rule change could be in line with recent decisions in the larger sports world.
- On Feb. 5, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order, which, according to ESPN, “bans transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports.”
According to ABC News, the White House expects sports bodies like the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to change their rules to follow the executive order. Details have yet to be confirmed at the time of this article’s publication.
At the very least, CrossFit’s rulebook change this season is a 180-degree policy change from what CrossFit has promoted in the last five seasons.
More CrossFit Stories
- Reps Ahead Pro 6 Showcase Recap: Vets and Newbies Collide in Miami
- Annie Thorisdottir to Skip 2025 CrossFit Season, Cites Disappointing Response to Dukic’s Death
- Invictus Launches New Total Strength Program Created by Games Podium Athletes Sam Dancer and Holden Rethwill
Featured Image: Carlos Fleury
