The World Athletics council has banned transgender athletes from competing in female events, and makes new regulations on DSD athletes. This decisions takes effect from March 31, 2023.
The World Athletics council has banned transgender athletes from competing in female events.
It was announced at the 230th World Athletics council meeting and later published on the athletics governing body's website, stating several important decisions regarding the future participation of the Russian and Belarusian Member Federations in athletics, new regulations on DSD athletes, and the official banning of transgender athletes from female events.
The World Athletics president Sebastian Coe made this known at the council meeting, and the banning takes effect from March 31, 2023.
"Regarding transgender athletes, the World Athletics Council has agreed to exclude male-to-female transgender athletes who have been through male puberty from the female World Rankings competition from March 31, 2023," Coe said.
World Athletics gives new regulations on DSD athletes
Meanwhile, the council has confirmed new eligibility regulations for athletes who are transgender or who have Differences in Sexual Development (DSD).
The new regulations will require any relevant athletes to reduce their testosterone levels below a limit of 2.5 nmol/L for a minimum of 24 months to compete internationally in the female category in any event, not just the events that were restricted (400m to one mile) under the previous regulations.
This regulation applies to Namibia's duo of Christine Mboma (African Record holder in the women's 200m) and Beatrice Masilingi.
However, in their case, the World Athletics has said they are required to suppress their testosterone levels below 2.5nmol/L for a minimum of six months before they are eligible to compete again.
The six months period is consistent with the previous regulations, which required six months of testosterone suppression (below 5nmol/L) for DSD athletes to compete in the restricted events.
These regulations will come into effect on March 31, 2023.
19:39 - 23.03.2023
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