World Athletics has banned transgender women from competing in female world ranking competitions beginning March 31, the sport’s governing body announced Thursday.
Organization president Sebastian Coe said that the ban will prevent any transgender woman athlete that went through puberty before transitioning from competing in the elite female competitions. He added in a press conference Thursday that the decision was “guided by the overarching principle which is to protect the female category,” according to BBC Sport.
“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,” Coe said in a statement. “We will be guided in this by the science around physical performance and male advantage which will inevitably develop over the coming years. As more evidence becomes available, we will review our position, but we believe the integrity of the female category in athletics is paramount.”
