(Sports news) After controversy and debate surrounding the participation of transgender women competing in female sports, World Athletics has now confirmed that male to female transgender athletes who have undergone male puberty will be ineligible to compete in female competition. World Athletics president Lord Coe said “We have also taken decisive action to protect the female category in our sport, and to do so by restricting the participation of transgender and DSD athletes.
“The decision has been taken in consultation with a number of stakeholders including 40 member federations, our athletes, our coaches and through the athletes commission, as well as a range of other community groups, including trans groups, UN experts, the IOC and Para-athletics. The majority of those consulted stated that transgender athletes should not be competing in the female category.
“Many believe there is insufficient evidence that trans-women do not retain advantage over biological women, and want more evidence that any physical advantages have been ameliorated before they are willing to consider an option for inclusion into the female category.” The council has voted to cut the maximum amount of plasma testosterone for athletes with Differences in Sex Development (DSD) in half, to 2.5 nanomoles per litre from five.
The rules will have a significant impact on the likes of two-times Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya, Christine Mboma, the 2020 Olympic silver medallist in the 200m, and Francine Niyonsaba, who finished runner-up to Semenya in the 800m at the 2016 Olympics. The exclusion was criticised by Canadian cyclist Kristen Worley, a transitioned athlete who has legally challenged the gender policies of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and said that the decision was “disheartening and disappointing”.
In an interview with Reuters, Caster Semenya said “What’s happening is the most vulnerable are being excluded from sport more for political reasons and not based on science and research. This has effects not just at the international levels but consequently over communities across the globe including communities in the United States.” However, the decision was also welcomed by a number of elite female athletes with British runner and Olympian Emily Diamond saying “A big step for fairness and protecting the female category. Hopefully this will be the rule across all levels now, not just elite ranking events”
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