Photo Courtesy of REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
World Athletics, the international governing body for athletics, has recently banned transgender women from participating in women’s sports at the Summer 2024 Paris Olympics.
This decision has been made in order to protect the female category and to maintain fairness in competition. While some may argue that this decision is discriminatory, World Athletics stands by its choice and asserts that it was made to keep competition fair.
The decision has been met with criticism from transgender athletes and advocates who believe that it is a step backward for transgender inclusion in sports.
French native Halba Diouf, born a male, had been training for the 200-meter race and was looking forward to running for her home country in France. However, the ban means that Diouf, who has transitioned as an adult and has had her change recognized by French authorities, will not be able to compete.
“I cannot understand this decision as transgender women have always been allowed to compete if their testosterone levels were below a certain threshold,” Diouf told Reuters. “The only safeguard transgender women have is their right to live as they wish, and we are being refused that, we are being hounded. … I feel marginalized because they are excluding me from competitions.”
Despite Diouf’s plea, World Athletics has no regrets about its decision, saying it was made to keep competition fair. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said, “Decisions are always difficult when they involve conflicting needs and rights between different groups, but we continue to take the view that we must maintain fairness for female athletes above all other considerations.”
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This decision has ignited the ongoing debate about whether transgender women should be allowed to compete in women’s sports. Transgender women who undergo hormone therapy are often subject to testosterone suppression, which can affect their performance. However, some argue that this is not enough and that transgender women still have physical advantages due to their male biology.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) currently allows transgender women to compete in women’s events if their testosterone levels have been below 10 nanomoles per liter for at least 12 months. This policy has been criticized by some for being too lenient, while others argue that it is too strict and denies transgender women their right to compete.
The issue is complex and there are valid arguments on both sides. On one hand, transgender women have the right to compete and should not be discriminated against. On the other hand, it is important to maintain a level playing field and to ensure that female athletes are not at a disadvantage.