ATHENS — In what will lend new meaning to the term broad jumping, a determination is being made as to whether transsexuals will be allowed to take part in the Olympic Games. But a decision was put off Saturday as the IOC executive board failed to reach consensus.

The decision-making body of the International Olympic Committeehad discussed the emotive subject at a meeting in the Greek capital but had failed to make much progress.

“The discussion was a difficult discussion for (IOC medical director) Patrick Schamasch and myself who tried to explain a verydifficult medical problem,” said IOC president Jacques Rogge.

The rule would cover both male-to-female and female-to-male cases.

Some contend that transsexual athletes have a physical advantage against other women, because men are believed to have higher levels of testosterone and greater muscle-to-fat ratio and heart and lung capacity.

However, doctors say, testosterone levels and muscle mass drop after hormone therapy and sex-change surgery.

“Even for me it is complicated,” Rogge said, “It is much more complicated for someone with no medical training.”