Female athletes warned Seb Coe there was ‘absolutely NO way’ transgender athletes who have transitioned after puberty could be allowed to compete in women’s events – as World Athletics votes to EXCLUDE them
- Seb Coe has made an appearance on Radio 4 on the transgender women ban
- The decision was revealed on Thursday by World Athletics president Lord Coe
- Athletes such as Caster Semenya and Christine Mboma will now be affected
Female athletes and coaches told Seb Coe in no uncertain terms that there was ‘absolutely no way’ that transgender women should be allowed to compete in the female category.
It was announced on Thursday that a landmark restructure for transgender participation rules has been passed by World Athletics which will prevent transgender women from competing in the female category in world ranking events from March 31 – and Lord Coe has claimed the move has been taken to protect the ‘very fundamental principle’ of sport.
Quizzed by BBC Radio 4 today he revealed that he had been inundated by messages from women urging him to make the decision to remove transgender athletes who have transitioned from male to female after puberty.
‘Female athletes, coaches, our member federations, they were absolutely clear that at this point there was absolutely no way that we should be including transgender athletes in elite competition in the female category,’ he said.
Asked what he would say to a transgender woman who would now be denied the chance to compete against other women, he said: ‘I would make the point that’s been consistently made that sport is very different.
World Athletics chief Seb Coe (pictured) has defended the landmark decision to exclude transgender athletes from the female category in world ranking point events
Coe has said that he wants to protect the female category (Pictured: Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji (right) winning 200m European gold ahead of GB’s Dina Asher-Smith (second left))
‘A pre-determinate for performance in sport is testosterone and athletes that have male biology moving into the female category is going to run the risk of damaging the integrity of that category and the integrity of competitions.’
Under previous rules, transgender women could compete in the female category as long as their testosterone levels were below five nanomoles per litre over a one-year period.
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In January, World Athletics announced they wanted to tighten their policy but said their ‘preferred option’ was only to reduce testosterone levels to 2.5 nmol/L and increase the transition period to two years.
That led to a huge backlash from female athletes and women’s rights campaigners who wanted a blanket ban on transgender athletes competing against other women.
And on Thursday, they were granted their wish following a vote of World Athletics council members, with the governing body admitting there was ‘little support’ for their original stance during a consultation period.
Lord Coe has called on impacted transgender athletes to play a role in a ‘working group’ that has been set up following this ban.
‘It is very important that we do not have as robust science as we do on the other category that we had to deal with today with is DSD – differences of sexual development,’ he said.
‘We need to know more and the working group will allow us to do that. I would say to that athlete, join the working group. There is a lot of fear, there is a lot of disinformation, there is a lack of knowledge in the space. Help us understand this more.’
The decision by World Athletics follows that of swimming’s world governing body, FINA, who announced a ban on transgender athletes from competing in elite women’s races last summer.
Sharron Davies, the former British Olympic swimmer and leading campaigner on the issue, tweeted: ‘Thank you @sebcoe & @WorldAthletics for standing up for female athletes across the world who are worthy of fair sport.’
Caster Semenya will be affected by new rules for athletes with Differences in Sex Development
Christine Mboma, 2020 Olympic 200m silver medallist, will also be affected by the rulings
Former swimmer Sharron Davies, who has been outspoken on the issue, praised the decision as ‘standing up for female athletes across the world who are worthy of fair sport’
She added: ‘Protecting the female category must include young girls, masters females & schools too.
The rules for trans women in other sports
Cycling
Provided they have reduced their testosterone to a specific amount, transgender women can compete against other women.
Swimming
Transgender women are banned from elite female races if they have been through any male puberty. FINA, the governing body, is creating an ‘open’ category for transgender swimmers.
Rugby
Since 2020, trans women have been prevented from playing at the elite, international level of women’s rugby. World Rugby was the first international sports body to impose such a ban
‘They all deserve their right to fair sport. This cannot just be about elite.
‘School girls, Club athletes & masters racers (as well protecting the pathway) is no less worthy of fair competition.
‘Sport is for all. But it must be safe, fair & then inclusive.
‘Not the other way round. Let’s have respectful debate & find places for everyone.’
Asked on Thursday if he expected a legal challenge, Coe said: ‘It’s possible. If that is the case, then we will do what we have done in the past which is vigorously defend our position.
‘We will always do what we think is in the best interest of our sport.’
In a hugely significant day, Coe also announced stricter rules on athletes with differences in sex development (DSD).
Under previous regulations, DSD athletes only faced restrictions in events ranging from 400 metres to a mile, which prevented double 800 metres Olympic champion Caster Semenya from competing.
However, DSD athletes in all other events must also now reduce their testosterone levels to 2.5 nmol/L for at least six months, meaning Christine Mboma, the Olympic 200m silver medallist, is ineligible to compete at this summer’s World Championships in Budapest.
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