World Athletics to Consider Policy Restricting Trans Athletes’ Participation in Women’s Sports

“As we have always said, all regulations are subject to review at any time,” World Athletics told  The Christian Post in a statement. “In terms of including our female eligibility regulations, we will follow the science and the decade and more of the research we have in this area in order to protect the female category, maintain fairness in our competitions and remain as inclusive as possible.”

At the end of January, World Athletics will discuss, in a “more targeted way,” whether regulations for both transgender athletes and athletes with differences of sexual development should be amended.

“Putting forward a preferred option is the best way to gather constructive feedback, but this does not mean this is the option that will be presented to Council or indeed adopted,” the statement added.

As reported by The Telegraph, the organization came to a “preferred option” after consulting with its member federations and looking over different kinds of scientific studies and field observations.

World Athletics also discussed whether to limit the amount of plasma testosterone trans-identifying athletes can have to 2.5 nanomoles per liter, which is half of the current limit. The guidelines would further double the amount of time such athletes would have to be below the threshold in order to compete.

A final decision regarding the proposal is expected to take place this March.

World Athletics, based in Stockholm, Sweden, oversees a variety of sports, including track and field, cross-country running, relay running, road running, race walking, mountain running, ultra-running and more.

Photo courtesy: Zach Lucero/Unsplash

Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for Christian Headlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.