Athletics world governing body bans transgender women athletes

MANCHESTER, England-World Athletics has banned transgender women from competing in elite female competitions and tightened testosterone restrictions for other athletes, the governing body said on Friday.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said the decision to exclude transgender women who have gone through male puberty was based “on the general need to protect the category of women”.

Stricter measures on one of the sport’s most controversial and divisive issues follow similar measures at the World Aquatics in 2022.

The World Athletics Council also voted to reduce the maximum amount of plasma testosterone for athletes with Differences in Gender Development (DSD) by half, to 2.5 nanomoles per liter from five.

DSD athletes must also reduce their testosterone levels below the new limit for a minimum of 24 months in all events to compete, double the previous one.

The governing body previously launched an option for transgender athletes to be allowed to compete in the women’s category if they also maintain testosterone levels below 2.5 nanomoles per liter for 24 months.

However, on Thursday, it was revealed that there was no sports support for the proposal.

“We’re not saying no forever,” Coe said at a news conference.

Coe announced the formation of a working group, which will be led by transgender athletes, to further study trans inclusion issues.

“The working group will look at anything that exists or changes or is beyond our understanding of the space,” Coe said. “We don’t know enough, now we need to know more, and this is the journey we’re on. But we’re not ready to risk the women’s category on that basis.

The stricter testosterone rules will affect DSD athletes such as two-time Olympic 800 meters champion Caster Semenya, Christine Mboma, the 2020 Olympic silver medalist in the 200m, and Francine Niyonsaba, who was runner-up to Semenya in the 800 at the 2016 Olympics.

WA regulations around DSD previously required women competing in events between 400 meters and the mile to keep testosterone levels below five nanomoles per litre.

The governing body on Thursday introduced interim provisions for athletes who have competed outside restricted events, which will require them to reduce their testosterone levels to 2.5 nanomoles per liter within six months.

This will prevent some women from competing at the World Athletics Championships in August.

Since being banned from the 800m, Burundi’s Niyonsaba turned his attention to the 5,000, winning the Diamond League Final in 2021.

She was disqualified in the heat of the 5,000m at the Tokyo Olympics for a lane violation, while Semenya failed to qualify for the Olympics.

Namibia’s Mboma, unable to run the 400m, switched to the 200m, winning silver in Tokyo.

DSD athletes have male testes but do not produce enough of the hormone Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) necessary for the formation of male external genitalia.

Coe said the decision was made in consultation with many stakeholders including 40 federation members, coaches, athletes, plus various community groups including trans groups, UN experts and the International Olympic Committee.

Swimming’s World Aquatics body voted last June to ban transgender women from elite competition if they have experienced part of male puberty. A scientific panel found that after reducing testosterone levels through medication, transgender women still have a significant advantage.

The vote was passed with 71% of national federations in favor.

RELATED STORY

Read Next

For suggestions, complaints, or questions, please contact us.