Derecho a la igualdad y no discriminación en el deporte

Introduction: Gender equality in sports remains a structural challenge across institutional, social, and cultural dimensions. In Ecuador, women athletes continue to face barriers related to access, visibility, and recognition. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the dynamics of inequality and discrimination in Ecuadorian sports from a gender equality rights perspective, in order to identify structural barriers, evaluate institutional policies, and propose inclusive strategies. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive-correlational design was used. The population consisted of 348 participants (athletes, coaches, and sports officials). A validated questionnaire was applied, and descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlation, and Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were conducted. Results: Findings showed that women reported higher perceptions of inequality in access to resources, leadership roles, and media coverage. 58% of female respondents experienced discriminatory situations. Most participants were unaware of institutional protocols against gender-based violence. Significant differences were found by gender and professional role. Discussion: The results aligned with previous studies indicating the persistence of patriarchal structures in sports. The study highlighted the need for effective implementation of existing policies and gender-focused training programs. Conclusions: Although legal progress has been made, achieving real gender equality in Ecuadorian sports requires structural transformation. This study offers empirical insights for the design of sports policies grounded in human rights and gender equity.