The World Athletics (International Athletics Federation) announced, last Thursday (23), that transgender women who have gone through male puberty are prohibited from competing in international events in the women’s category from the 31st of March.
“World Athletics held a multi-stakeholder consultation period in the first two months of this year, including federations, the Global Academy of Athletics Coaches and Athletes Commission, the IOC, as well as human rights and transgender groups. It became apparent that there was little support within the sport for the option that was first presented to stakeholders, which required transgender athletes to keep their testosterone levels below 2.5 nmol/L for 24 months to be eligible to compete. internationally in the female category”, said the entity.
At note released, World Athletics says it has been researching the issue for over ten years and has decided to prioritize fairness and integrity in women’s competition before inclusion. In addition, the entity stated that it has now created a working group that will last for 12 months to consider in a deeper way the issue of transgender inclusion.
“Decisions are always difficult when they involve conflicting needs and rights between different groups, but we continue to hold the view that we must uphold justice for female athletes above all other considerations. We will be guided in this by the science around physical performance and the male advantage that will inevitably develop in the coming years. As more evidence becomes available, we will revise our position, but we believe that the integrity of women’s athletics is paramount,” said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.
In a note sent to Brazil Agency, the Brazilian Athletics Confederation (CBAt) stated that it “will follow the guidelines of World Athletics”. According to the organization, this will be done to maintain “a single rule regarding male and female transgender athletes who have had male puberty”.
“The CBAt asked to participate, and its request was accepted, in the working group created by World Athletics to consider, for a period of 12 months, the issue of transgender inclusion in greater depth. We will get involved to present contributions from the academic and scientific community in Brazil”, concludes the note signed by the chairman of the board of directors of CBAt, Wlamir Motta Campos.
* Title corrected at 20:47. In fact, the decision of World Athletics does not prohibit, but only allows the participation of transgender women who have not gone through male puberty.
