GUIDELINES FOR UAAP PARTICIPATION OF TRANSGENDER 
PERSONS 
 
 
 
UAAP Season 82 
 
 
 
 
Robie Batungbacal 
Enriquito Cruz 
Anica Gomez 
Pelos Remollo 
Ric Sigui 
Renson Yu 
   
 DECLARATION OF POLICY 
 
Providing  equal  opportunity  in  sports  is  recognized  not  only  as  a  core  value  in 
education,  but  also,  and  more importantly, as a human right. To respond to the realities of the 
growing  number  of  transgender  students  seeking  to  participate  in  their  school’s  athletics 
programs,  especially  with  the  gender that they identify with1, institutions of learning are called 
on  to  take  a  proactive  stance  against  discrimination  and  to  start  taking  steps  to  be  aware  of 
and  address  all  issues  on  fairness  and  equity.  Thus,  in  response  to  the  clarion  call  for  gender 
equity  in  sports,  the  UAAP  advocates  for  and  adopts  a  policy  of  inclusion  and 
non-discrimination,  particularly  with  regard  to  the  participation  of  transgender  athletes  in  all 
athletics  programs.  Thus,  the  principal  aim  of  these  Guidelines  is  to  afford  transgender 
student-athletes  the  equal  opportunity  to  participate  in  sports  keeping  in  mind  the 
association’s interest in maintaining fair competition.  
 
RULES AND REGULATIONS 
 
In  addition  to  the  requirements2  ​currently  imposed  by  the  UAAP  on 
student-athlete-participants  with  regard  to  general  requirements,  eligibility  documents 
procedures,  documents  to  be  submitted  by  incoming  students, qualifying marks, addition and 
replacement  of  athletes,  withdrawal  of  athletes  protest  on  eligibility,  misrepresentation  of 
documents,  residency  requirements  number  of  playing  years,  playing  outside  the  UAAP, 
disciplinary  sanctions, citizenship requirements, among others, the following requirements are 
also to be imposed on transgender student-athletes (TSA): 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

1
​National Collegiate Athletics Association, NCCA Inclusion of Transgender Student-Athletes, available at
https://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/Transgender_Handbook_2011_Final.pdf​ (last accessed March 6, 2019).
2
UAAP Season 77 Ground Rules & Guidelines, University Athletic Association of the Philippines (2014).
 I. 
DEFINITION OF TERMS 
 
1. FTM (Female-to-Male)/Affirmed male/transboy — A child or adult who was assigned 
to the female gender at birth but identifies with the male gender.3  
2. MTF  (Male-to-Female)/Affirmed  female/transgirl  —  A  child  or  adult  who  was 
assigned to the male gender at birth but identifies with the female gender.4 
3. Gender  Identit​y  -  a  person’s  internal  psychological  identification  as  a  boy/man  or 
girl/woman.5 
4. Transgender:  ​An  individual  whose  gender  identity  does  not  match  the  person’s  sex at 
birth.6 
5. TSA​ - Transgender Student-Athlete 
 
II. 
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SCHOOL 
 
1. The  school  must  develop  a  policy  and  culture  that  fosters  inclusivity  and  equitable 
participation  allowing  all  qualified  students  to  take  part  in  athletics  programs 
regardless  of  their  chosen  gender  identity  and  expression  and  balance  it  with  the  fair 
competition. 
2. The  school  must  take  active  steps  in  achieving  and  spreading  awareness  about  the 
rights and issues concerning gender identity and expression in the context of sports. 
3. The  school  must  respect  the  privacy  of  all  student-athletes,  especially  the  decisions  of 
the  student-athletes  with  regard  to  their  gender  identity  and  expression as well as any 
medical information in relation thereto.  
4. The  school  must  conduct  regular  forums  and training seminars in order to educate the 
athletics  administrators,  coaches  and  other  student  athletes  regarding  the  proper 
etiquette,  behavior,  and  current  scientific  perspectives  on  the  participation  of 
transgender student-athletes on men’s and women’s sports teams.  

3
​National Collegiate Athletics Association, NCCA Inclusion of Transgender Student-Athletes, available at
https://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/Transgender_Handbook_2011_Final.pdf​ (last accessed March 6, 2019).
4
​Id.
5
Gender Spectrum, “A Word About Words,” available online at http://www.genderspectrum.org/images/stories/
Resources/Family/A_Word_About_Words.pdf
6
​Id.
 5. The  school  must  constantly  review  its  policies  and  rules  on  TSA  participation  and 
eligibility  in  interuniversity-sports  competitions  and  ensure  that  the  rights  and 
concerns of TSAs are fully addressed and protected. 
6. The  school  must  create  a  Committee  specifically  dedicated  to  raising  awareness about 
gender  equity  issues  and  tasked  to  receive  the  complaints  from  aggrieved 
student-athletes.  
 
III.  
GENDER OR FEMININITY CONTROL7 
 
1. Gender Determination 
a. For  purposes  of  a  student-athlete’s  eligibility  to  participate  in  the  UAAP  sports 
competitions,  the  determination  of  the  gender  of  an  athlete,  shall be primarily 
based  on  his/her  Certificate  of  Live  Birth.  Provided,  that  if  an  athlete  has 
previously  undergone  a  sex  change,  the  following  documents  shall  likewise  be 
considered: 8 
i. a certification under oath from a duly licensed physician stating that the 
athlete has successfully undergone a sex change and the gender of such 
athlete post-procedure.9 
ii. an affidavit from the athlete stating that he/she has undergone a sex 
change and that he/she identifies with his/her gender post-procedure.10 
2. The  member  universities  are  responsible  for  validating  the  gender  of  their  respective 
athletes.11 
3. If  a  challenge  is  presented  by  another  member  university,  the  following  process  shall 
be carried out:12 
a. A  reputable  doctor  shall  be  appointed  by  the  host  university  to  issue  impartial 
decisions,  unless  it is the host university that is intending to field a TSA, in which 
case, another university included in the UAAP, to be decided by the UAAP board, 
will appoint;13 

7
UAAP Season 77 Ground Rules & Guidelines, ​supra note​ 2.
8
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9
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10
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11
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12
​Id.
13
UAAP Season 77 Ground Rules & Guidelines, ​supra note​ 2.
 b. Confer  with  the  UAAP-appointed  medical  practitioner  who  will  conduct 
interviews and regular tests i.e. ultrasound, doping, etc.14 
c. Refer  and  verify  findings  using  the  facilities  at  the  St.  Luke’s  Medical  Center,  or 
other medical institutions which the UAAP Board might deem fit.15 
4. Conditions:16 
a. If  the  challenge  is  unsuccessful,  the  costs  of  the  tests  will  be  charged  to  the 
challenging university;17 
b. If  the  challenge  is  successful,  the  costs  of  the  test  will  be  paid by the university 
intending to field the TSA;18 
c. Forfeiture of games19 
i. For  individual  sports:  the  medal  of  the  athlete  in  question  will  be 
relinquished and handed back to the UAAP;20 
ii. For  team  sports:  if  the  athlete’s  gender  is  deemed  questionable  by  the 
UAAP-appointed  doctor  and  the  member  university  allows the athlete in 
question  to  continue  playing, after which the test comes out positive , all 
the  games  participated  in  by  the  athlete  in  question  shall  be  forfeited, 
and  will  be  deemed  disqualified  for  that  season,  with  the  consequence 
of nullifying any award which the team wins, if such is the case;21 
iii. A  member  university  can  pose  a  challenge  to  the  eligibility  of  the  TSA, 
within  1  month  from  the  release  of  the  final  roster  of  the  university  in 
the  specific  sport.  When  a  challenge  is  presented,  the  same  may  not  be 
withdrawn,  but  the  athlete  in  question  may  be  withdrawn  by  the 
concerned university.22 
iv. If  sex  changes  are  conducted  before  puberty,  the  athlete  can  qualify  to 
play  immediately.  If  sex  changes  are  conducted  after  puberty,  the 
athlete  can  qualify  to  play  two  (2)  years  after  the  procedure.23  The 
determination  of  when  puberty  occurs  will  depend  on  the  discretion  of 

14
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15
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16
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17
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18
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19
UAAP Season 77 Ground Rules & Guidelines, ​supra note​ 2.
20
Id.
21
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22
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23
Id.
 the  UAAP  Board  and  the  medical-practitioners  whose  services  they 
decide to procure. 
 
IV. 
TRANSGENDER STUDENT-ATHLETE PARTICIPATION 
 
NCAA  Policy  on  Transgender  Student-Athlete  Participation24  shall  be  adopted  by  the  UAAP 
Rules, which states: 
1. A  trans  male  (FTM)  student-athlete  who  has  received  a  medical  exception  for  treatment 
with  testosterone  for  diagnosed  Gender  Identity  Disorder  or  gender  dysphoria  and/or 
Transsexualism,  for  purposes  of  NCAA  competition  may  compete  on  a men’s team, but is 
no  longer  eligible  to  compete  on  a  women’s  team  without  changing  that  team status to a 
mixed team.25 
2. A  trans  female  (MTF)  student-athlete  being  treated  with  testosterone  suppression 
medication  for  Gender  Identity  Disorder  or  gender  dysphoria  and/or  Transsexualism,  for 
the  purposes  of  NCAA  competition  may  continue  to  compete  on  a  men’s  team  but  may 
not  compete  on  a  women’s  team  without  changing  it  to  a  mixed  team  status  until 
completing one calendar year of testosterone suppression treatment.26 
 
Any  transgender  student-athlete  who  is  not  taking  hormone  treatment  related  to  gender 
transition  may  participate  in  sex-separated  sports  activities  in  accordance  with  his  or  her 
assigned birth gender.27 
1. A  trans  male  (FTM)  student-athlete  who  is  not  taking  testosterone  related  to  gender 
transition may participate on a men’s or women’s team.28 
2. A  trans  female  (MTF)  transgender  student-athlete  who  is  not  taking  hormone 
treatments related to gender transition may not compete on a women’s team.29 
 

24
National Collegiate Athletics Association, NCCA Inclusion of Transgender Student-Athletes, available at
https://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/Transgender_Handbook_2011_Final.pdf​ (last accessed March 6, 2019).
25
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26
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27
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28
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29
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In  addition  to  the  above-mentioned  requirements,  The  IOC  Consensus  Meeting  on  Sex 
Reassignment  and  Hyperandrogenism30  shall  also  be  adopted  by  these  UAAP  Rules,  with 
modifications: 
 
1. TSAs who identify as male are eligible to compete in the male category without restriction.31 
2. TSAs  who  identify  as  female  are  eligible  to  compete  in  the  female  category  under  the 
following conditions:32 
2.1.  The  TSA  has  declared  that  her gender identity is female. The declaration cannot be 
changed, for sporting purposes, for a minimum of four years.33 
2.2.  The  athlete  must  demonstrate  that  her  total  testosterone  level  in  serum  has been 
below 5 nmol/L for at least 12 months prior to the start of their respective tournaments 
or  competitions.  The  12-month  period  could  be  changed  by  the  UAAP  Board, 
depending on the circumstances, but such should not be less than 12 months.34 
2.3.  The  athlete's  total  testosterone  level  in  serum  must  remain  below  5  nmol/L 
throughout  the  period  of  desired  eligibility  to  compete  in  the  female  category.35  The 
testosterone  level  may  be  subject  to  change  to  be  decided  by  the  board  of  directors, 
with mandatory consultation with all the universities involved. 
2.4.  Compliance  with  these  conditions  may  be  monitored  by  testing.  In  the  event  of 
non-compliance,  the  athlete’s  eligibility  for  female  competition  will be suspended for 6 
to 12 months, depending on the discretion of the UAAP Board.36 
   

30
International Olympic Committee, The IOC Consensus Meeting on Sex Reassignment and Hyperandrogenism, available at
https://stillmed.olympic.org/Documents/Commissions_PDFfiles/Medical_commission/2015-11_ioc_consensus_meeting_on_sex_rea
ssignment_and_hyperandrogenism-en.pdf​ (last accessed March 6, 2019).
31
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32
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33
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35
International Olympic Committee, The IOC Consensus Meeting on Sex Reassignment and Hyperandrogenism, available at
https://stillmed.olympic.org/Documents/Commissions_PDFfiles/Medical_commission/2015-11_ioc_consensus_meeting_on_sex_rea
ssignment_and_hyperandrogenism-en.pdf​ (last accessed March 6, 2019).
36
​Id.
 V. 
MEDICAL ATTENTION 
  
1. Member  universities  are  responsible  for  the  medical  needs  of  their  transgender 
athletes, hence they are required to: 
a.  Have  their  medical  staff  or  personal  trainers  undergo  training  for  the 
specific needs of the transgender athletes including but not limited to: 
i.  First aid 
ii.  Emergency care 
b. Conduct guidance counseling or consolation for those who are in need. 
c.  Have appropriate medicines that are needed for the appropriate condition 
of the athletes. 
2.   The  UAAP  and  the  appropriate  host  school  shall  ensure  that  in  every  event  there  is 
access to: 
a. First aid 
b. Ambulance 
c. Medicine  
 
 
 
VI. 
FACILITIES ACCESS 
A. Changing Areas, Toilets, Showers 
1. Transgender  student-athletes  should  be  able  to  use  the  locker  room,  shower, 
and toilet facilities in accordance with the student’s gender identity.37  
2. Every locker room should have some private, enclosed changing areas, showers, 
and toilets for use by any athlete who desires them.38   
3. When  requested  by  a  transgender  student-athlete,  schools  should  provide 
private,  separate  changing,  showering,  and  toilet  facilities  for  the student’s use, 
but transgender students should not be required to use separate facilities.39   

37
​National Collegiate Athletics Association, NCCA Inclusion of Transgender Student-Athletes, available at
https://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/Transgender_Handbook_2011_Final.pdf​ (last accessed March 6, 2019).
38
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39
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 B. Competition At Another School 
1. If  a  transgender  student-athlete requires a particular accommodation to ensure 
access  to  appropriate  changing,  showering,  or  bathroom  facilities,  school 
leaders,  athletic  directors,  and  coaches,  in  consultation  with  the  transgender 
student-athlete,  should  notify  their  counterparts  at  other  schools  prior  to 
competitions  to  ensure  that  the  student  has  access  to  facilities  that  are 
comfortable  and  safe.  This  notification  should  maintain  the  student’s 
confidentiality.40   
2. Under  no  circumstances  should  a  student-athlete’s  identity  as  a  transgender 
person be disclosed without the student’s express permission.41   
C. Hotel Rooms  
1. Transgender  student-athletes  generally  should  be  assigned  to  share  hotel 
rooms  based  on  their  gender  identity,  with  a  recognition  that  any  student  who 
needs extra privacy should be accommodated whenever possible.42   
 
VII. 
DRESS CODES & TEAM UNIFORMS 
 
A. Dress Codes for Competition Proper  
1. TSAs should be permitted to dress consistently with their gender identities. The 
existing restrictions should be applied equally to all persons in their respective 
gender categorizations.43 
B. Dress Code In Transit 
1. In order to recognize the right of TSAs to participate in the UAAP competitions 
and tournaments, dress codes for athletic teams when traveling or during a 
game day at school should be genderneutral.44 
C. Restrictions  

40
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42
National Collegiate Athletics Association, NCCA Inclusion of Transgender Student-Athletes, available at
https://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/Transgender_Handbook_2011_Final.pdf​ (last accessed March 6, 2019).
43
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44
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 1. No student should be required to wear a gendered uniform that conflicts with 
the student’s gender identity.45 Such violation will subject the university to 
corresponding sanctions, as the UAAP Board may deem proper. 
 
 
 
 
VIII. 
ENFORCEMENT AND SANCTIONS 

1. Any  person  in  charge  of the athletics program or has control over the participation of a 

student-athlete  will  be  subject  to  disciplinary action, ranging from warning, suspension 
to  expulsion,  depending  on  the  discretion  of  the  school’s  disciplinary  committee,  if 
found to have committed any of the following acts: 
a. Withholding  or  threatening  to  withhold  athletic  opportunity  to  a  qualified 
student athlete without any justifiable cause 
b. Harassing  or  discriminating  against any student-athlete on the basis of their sex 
or gender  
c. Breaching the medical confidentiality of the student-athletes 
2. Any  member  of  the  athletics  department  who  becomes  aware  of  conduct that violates 
this  policy  should  report  the  conduct  to  the  appropriate  official  such as the director of 
athletics.  Failing  to  report  such  conduct  shall  be subject to the appropriate disciplinary 
action.  
3. The  athletics  department  should  take  appropriate  remedial  action  to  immediately 
correct  the  situation.  In  this  regard,  it shall be ensured that student-athletes shall have 
the  necessary  avenues  in  order  to  ventilate  their  concerns  and  issues  to  such 
department.  
4. Retaliation  is  specifically  forbidden  against  anyone  who  complains  about 
discrimination  based  on  gender  identity  or  expression, even if the person was in error. 
Athletics  departments  should  take  steps  to  prevent  any  retaliation  against  any  person 

45
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 who  makes  such  a  complaint  as  well  as  to  maintain  the  confidentiality  of  the 
student-athlete if requested.