Sports, am I being stupid?

[anita]

Hi friends,
  I play lot of ping pong, from childhood, use to play for my district when in school. Later stopped it and restarted when I started working. Started playing with some of the best players in my state, in a rather new club. Since I wanted to start transitioning soon, I wanted to give a final try at state selections last year. I got through like 4 rounds, and then lost to a long pips player. I started practicing specifically against all these non-conventional type of rubbers. But at the same time I was running into the fear that if I keep playing at a competitive level I will never have the heart to go through the transition, and I stopped playing completely. I now missing playing, but worried if I start playing due to the love of the game I might keep postponing anything related to transition. I have heard that even hormones come up in steroid tests and I'll be disqualified etc. Since I did try like my resolve, and didn't get through, should I just stop it, and somehow play in a non competition level. Not sure if I am using ping pong as a reason to delay transition, or using transitioning as a reason to face failure in ping pong. What should I ask myself, what do I do? I am currently pre-HRT, pre-op, pre-everything, sometimes even wonder if I should go through transition.

Hugs,
Anita

[Jamie D]

Don't let the sport cloud your vision.  You can always participate in the womens brackets.

Not sure where you are located, but you can always contact your sports authority for clarification.

[Bexi]

I've been through it all and agree with Jamie D - don't let something get in the way of who you are meant to be.

I was like you - always playing my preferred sport, 24/7 wondering where it would lead and then had my long awaited gender-epiphany. One day i was a normal guy with what other people called 'emotional turmoil' and then something "clicked" and ever since i've decided to transition  i've felt MUCH happier and enjoyed my life immensely.

If i'd have stuck with my prior occupation I could have been set for life but it would have been a lie - to myself, to my family and to the people who believed in me. And thats not fair on anyone

X

[Alexis]

If i'd have stuck with my prior occupation I could have been set for life but it would have been a lie - to myself, to my family and to the people who believed in me. And thats not fair on anyone

^This

Don't let the sport cloud your vision.

^and This

It is a big choice that you're faced with. I know because I was faced with giving up a sport that was a true passion. I had a once in a lifetime opportunity and while I don't regret making the choice to give it up, I definitely get nostalgic about it, especially with the summer olympics coming up. I know that NCAA eligibility rules as well as olympic taking hormones doesn't bar you from competition. As far as I know in both organizations as an MTF, there isn't anything barring you from competing as a man early into HRT. To compete for the women's teams in NCAA as an MTF you have to have undergone 1 year of documented testosterone suppression (http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Resources/Latest+News/2011/September/Transgender+policy+approved) and Olympic Committee says you have to have have gone through SRS and 2 years of HRT I think. It all depends on where you are/what organization/what level. The best thing for you to do is find out the rules and wether or not being on HRT is going to prevent you from competing, and if it will, then unfortunately you will have to decide which is more important to you for the time being. Not an easy choice, but if you can be honest with yourself then you can't choose wrong if you're even forced to choose at all.

And no, you're not being stupid at all

[rachl]

Remember, though, that that's JUST the NCAA! Most sports bodies don't have a policy for trans persons, and the IOC/IAAF policy is way worse than the NCAA policy: you'd likely require SRS.

But that shouldn't stop you from at least playing at the club level. I play high level badminton; I just don't compete anymore.

[snowboarderchic]

Don't give up on your sport, or your transition! I still compete in my sport but in the womens category. I  do get some gruff and there have been instances of scoring bias against me. But to my knowledge I'm the only trans-person in my sport. I'm older now so competing at the upper professional level is slim to none, but I feel that I'm making the industry aware of the presence of trans issues, and maybe I'm helping the younger trans-youth who is also in your position.
Keep going, and stay strong!

[anita]

May be it is just laziness, I didn't go and play today. I thought I'll. Probably just blaming transition issues on my sports Tomorrow, I'll definitely try to resume I so miss the feeling of hitting.

[Bexi]

May be it is just laziness, I didn't go and play today. I thought I'll. Probably just blaming transition issues on my sports Tomorrow, I'll definitely try to resume I so miss the feeling of hitting.

Good for you
X

[Keroppi]

and Olympic Committee says you have to have have gone through SRS and 2 years of HRT I think.

Just to clarify, that's 2 years after SRS before being allowed to compete in the new gender.

Re. drugs test in general, (IANAL!) estradiol & finasteride is not a prohibited substance though spironolactone & goserelin is. Having said that, that's why Therapeutic Use Exemption exist. A good general advice as it is in sport, don't take any drugs unless it is prescribed by a doctor for a diagnosed medical purpose.

[Bexi]

A good general advice as it is in sport, don't take any drugs unless it is prescribed by a doctor for a diagnosed medical purpose.

Thats interesting! Would HRT be considered a 'medical purpose'?
X

[snowboarderchic]

Thats interesting! Would HRT be considered a 'medical purpose'?
X

I'm pretty sure it is, considering you get from a DR. There are strict medical standards trans people have to abide by. That is why it would be important to have documentation in your med file if you compete in sports.

[Alexis]

Just to clarify, that's 2 years after SRS before being allowed to compete in the new gender.

Re. drugs test in general, (IANAL!) estradiol & finasteride is not a prohibited substance though spironolactone & goserelin is. Having said that, that's why Therapeutic Use Exemption exist. A good general advice as it is in sport, don't take any drugs unless it is prescribed by a doctor for a diagnosed medical purpose.

eek! Thanks for posting that. And yea, that is actually the best advice you can give, especially at the upper echelons.

After posting in this thread the other day I really started thinking about this, and I really do miss my sport. I do have 2 years left of my NCAA eligibility, maybe one day I'll go back and decide to use them; it'd be a good excuse to study art I do hate what it did to me physically though (and wow that's vain)