World Athletics Bans Trans Women From Competing

Facts

• On Thursday, World Athletics, the international governing body for track and field, banned transgender women athletes who have gone through male puberty from competing in female world ranking competitions beginning March 31.¹
• The new regulations will also require athletes with Differences in Sex Development (DSD) to reduce their testosterone levels to 2.5 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L) — down from 5 — for a minimum of two years to compete in the female category.²
• The new rule does provide provisional exceptions for athletes with DSD — also known as "intersex" — already competing in previously unrestricted events, requiring them to reduce their testosterone levels to 2.5nmol/L for six months prior to competing.¹
• Transgender athletes won't be allowed to compete under the tighter testosterone rules. However, the governing body announced a committee — chaired by a transgender athlete — to contemplate the issue of transgender inclusion²
• The decision was reportedly made after consulting a number of stakeholders — including 40 national federations, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and UN experts.²
• In 2022, World Aquatics, the international governing body for swimming, also banned transgender women from competing in female competitions if they experienced male puberty after age 12.³

Sources: ¹BBC News, ²Reuters, and ³Associated Press.

Narratives

• Right narrative, as provided by Fair Observer. Emerging science shows trans athletes have a biological advantage over women even after lowering their testosterone levels, and regulations like these are needed to protect the integrity of sports and the women who are at risk of being left to compete for second place. It's essential to prioritize fairness over the woke ideas and political correctness that has many participating in today's rendition of the Emperor's New Clothes.
• Left narrative, as provided by Athlete Ally. The World Athletics' decision is deeply discriminatory, biased, and politically motivated. Not allowing transgender athletes to follow their passions because of who they are, on the assumption that they automatically have an unfair advantage over their cisgender peers in female sporting events, violates the IOC's framework on fairness, inclusion, and non-discrimination. These regulations don't protect the integrity of women's sports — they further the policing of women's bodies.
• Progressive narrative, as provided by The Conversation. Biological differences — along with differences in gender identity, race, culture, religion, and sexual orientation — must be accepted and celebrated. To include or exclude is a binary way of approaching a nonbinary situation. Establishing a female category — excluding anyone with performance advantage — and an "open category" — including intersex, nonbinary, and gender-fluid people — can be a fair and inclusive solution for transgender women in sports.