World Athletics bans transgender women from all female competitions

The governing body for World Athletics has placed a ban on transgender women from elite female competitions 'if they have undergone male puberty'. The body said that its transgender ban decision has been made to protect the future of the female category in sports.

Seb Coe, president of World Athletics, acknowledged after the verdict that it would be controversial. He, however, added that his sport has been guided by the overarching need of fairness and scientific research underlying physical performance and male advantage.

In 2022, World Aquatics made a similar decision to implement stricter measures surrounding one of the most sensitive and divisive subjects in sport.

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New research suggests transgender women retain an advantage in strength, endurance, power and lung capacity even after suppressing testosterone. (Image via Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio)

When New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard qualified for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo after transitioning in her 30s, the issue of transgender participation in sports became increasingly contentious.

Since Tokyo, the vast majority of sporting organizations have decided to allow trans women to compete, provided they reduce their testosterone levels to below 5 nanomoles per litre for a minimum of 12 months.

World Athletics proposed a lower testosterone limit for at least 24 months in January in response to new research demonstrating that trans women retain an advantage in strength, power, endurance, lung capacity and other performance parameters even after suppressing testosterone.

Coe, though, claimed that the proposed policy received little support, as athletes and federations made it clear that they intend to prioritize fairness for female sport over inclusivity.

After World Rugby in 2020, World Swimming and the Rugby Football League last year, athletics is the latest sport to restrict trans women from competing in female sports. After Lia Thomas, who had been an average male college swimmer in the United States, won the 2022 NCAA national college female title, the World Swimming body made its decision.

World Athletics move comes after World Swimming and World Rugby. (Image via Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio)

Stonewall and other LGBTQ+ organisations may speak out against World Athletics' decision. They made their case for a more inclusive sporting environment last month.

The transgender ban by World Athletics, though, was welcomed by campaign group Fair Play For Women, who have been campaigning against inclusion of transgender women in women based sports events.

World Athletics also made the significant decision to ban all athletes with a sex development difference from competing internationally in any event for at least six months. They would be allowed to compete after bringing their testosterone level down to 2.5 nanomoles per litre for at least six months.

To date, athletes with a DSD have been allowed to compete medication-free in all races, except the 400-meter and mile distances. That includes Caster Semenya, the former Olympic women's champion, and Christine Mboma, the silver medalist in the 200-meter at the Tokyo Olympics.

Athletes with a DSD, according to Coe, will now have to reduce their testosterone level for at least six months, which will cause them to miss the World Championships in Budapest this summer.