World Athletics Bans Transgender Women From Female Sporting Events

 

World Athletics has banned transgender women from participating in elite female competitions, including female track and field events regardless of their levels of testosterone.

The governing body's President, Sebastian Coe, announced this on Thursday, stating that the directive will go into effect on March 31, 2023, at a meeting of the global track and field federation's decision-making body, which includes 40 national federations, the International Olympic Committee, and transgender athletes.

He said, “The majority of those consulted stated that transgender athletes should not be competing in the female category.

“Many believe there is insufficient evidence that transwomen 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 judgement we took …was, I believe, in the best interests of our sport,” he added.

Coe stated that a working group led by a transgender person would be formed to closely monitor scientific developments.

“We’re not saying ‘no’ forever,” Coe said.

“We continue to take the view that we must maintain fairness for female athletes above all other considerations,” he said. “We will be guided in this by the science around physical performance and male advantage, which will inevitably develop over the coming years. As more evidence becomes available, we will review our position, but we believe the integrity of the female category in athletics is paramount.”

World Athletics said it became apparent that there is “little support within the sport” for an option that was presented to stakeholders that required transgender athletes to maintain their testosterone levels below 2.5 nanomoles per litre of blood for 24 months to be eligible to compete internationally in the female category.