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Summary of British Journal of Sports Medicine https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2025-110889
Dr. Kay M. Crossley et al.
Points
- The International Olympic Committee convened a global panel to address the rising injury risks associated with increased female participation in sports by developing gender-specific health guidelines.
- The resulting consensus statement outlines fifty-six recommendations that span the entire sports system to inform policy, regulation, and practical injury prevention strategies for women and girls.
- The authors emphasize that effective health interventions require a supportive environment characterized by equitable funding, resource allocation, and access to specialized knowledge and training facilities.
- The FAIR recommendations advocate for specific systemic changes including the implementation of female-specific health surveillance codes and the provision of gender-preferred uniforms and protective equipment.
- This initiative aims to bridge the historical gap in medical evidence by combining scientific data with the lived experiences of athletes to ensure safety and inclusivity.
Summary
To address the concomitant rise in injury risk associated with increased female participation in sports, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) convened a global panel of sports and exercise specialists to develop a comprehensive framework for health protection. This initiative was driven by a critical lack of gender-specific evidence, which has historically hampered the implementation of effective injury minimization strategies. The resulting consensus statement synthesizes the best available scientific evidence with the lived experiences of athletes and stakeholders to provide a robust guide for policy, regulation, and clinical practice within the “whole sports system.”
The panel produced 56 distinct recommendations encompassing a wide spectrum of interventions, ranging from universal guidelines to sport-specific protocols. These recommendations address primary and secondary injury prevention, the design of personal protective equipment, training load management, and the modification of risk factors. Furthermore, the statement integrates diversity and inclusion strategies, acknowledging that injury prevention is inextricably linked to the broader environment. The authors emphasize that strategies fail when athletes lack access to resources; thus, the guidelines mandate the creation of environments that support the implementation of best practices tailored specifically to the physiological and social needs of women and girls.
The consensus introduces the FAIR recommendations, a framework designed to facilitate a supportive ecosystem for female athletes. This approach advocates for equitable funding and resource allocation, specifically calling for gender-specific surveillance systems with female-specific health codes and sex-preferred uniforms. Additionally, the statement underscores the necessity of enhancing access to expertise through targeted research, education, and hiring practices. By shifting the focus from individual behavioral change to systemic equity, the IOC aims to establish new standards for health prevention that are both scientifically grounded and practically implementable for female athletes globally.
Link to the article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-22573-3
References
Crossley, K. M., Whittaker, J. L., Patterson, B., Shill, I. J., Heming, E. E., Bullock, G. S., Dijkstra, H. P., Donaldson, A., McKay, C. D., Mountjoy, M., Møller, M., Owoeye, O. B. A., Räisänen, A. M., Schulz, J. M., Blauwet, C., McHugh, T.-L., Mosler, A. B., Myklebust, G., Palmer, D., … Emery, C. (2025). Female, woman and/or girl Athlete Injury pRevention (Fair) practical recommendations: International Olympic Committee (Ioc) consensus meeting held in Lausanne, Switzerland, 2025. British Journal of Sports Medicine, bjsports-2025-110889. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2025-110889
