The international governing body for the sport of athletics has confirmed it will exclude male-to-female transgender athletes who have gone through male puberty from female competition.
World Athletics president Lord Sebastian Coe said today : “We have .. taken decisive action to protect the female category in our sport, and to do so by restricting the participation of transgender and DSD athletes.”
He said that the decision was 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,” Lord Coe confirmed.
“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 of World Athletics also 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 participation of transgender athletes – especially those who were born male – has proved hugely controversial.
Thank you @sebcoe & @WorldAthletics for standing up for female athletes across the world who are worthy of fair sport 😭👏🏻
— Sharron Davies MBE (@sharrond62) March 23, 2023
Italian female athletes have expressed concern that they are being discriminated against after a biological male won his eight female title in professional running earlier this month.#gript https://t.co/HURpANTSuy
— gript (@griptmedia) March 21, 2023