World Athletics now prohibits transgender women from competing in elite women’s competitions. The ban applies to anyone who has undergone male puberty. The World Athletics President has reasoned they have taken the decision to protect the women’s division. There has been much discussion on trans athletes competing in the female division for a long time. Female athletes argued in the past that the higher testosterone level found in transgender women gave them an upper hand in competitions.
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Therefore, considering certain aspects and looking at the “best interest” of the sport, the decision to ban transgender women was taken.
Transgender women banned from women’s division in elite competitions
On Thursday, Sebastian Coe, the President of the World Athletics Federation, declared that the decision would take effect from March 31. Following a meeting of the governing body of the international track and field federation, they made their choice. It also included consultations with the International Olympic Committee, transgender groups, and 40 national federations.
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The President of World Athletics said, “The majority of those consulted stated that transgender athletes should not be competing in the female category.” He added, “Many believe there is insufficient evidence that transwomen do not retain an 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.”
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However, Coe claims that the ruling does not indicate that transgender women’s career in athletics is over.
What’s the future now of transgender women athletes?
President Sebastian Coe said it is not over “forever” for transgender athletes as a group is investigating scientific breakthroughs on the topic. To maintain equality for female athletes, the group would monitor the physical performance science and masculine advantage. As more evidence comes up, the stance would be reviewed in the future. However, the position of female athletes in the category would be of utmost priority. Moreover, no transgender women athletes are currently competing on an international level.
Therefore, as of now, the committee has no prior evidence to conclude how the participation of transgender women might affect the fairness of the women’s division. And the council also voted to tighten restrictions on athletes with Differences in Sex Development (DSD), cutting the maximum amount of plasma testosterone for athletes in half, to 2.5 nanomoles per liter from five.
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Simar Singh Wadhwa