World Athletics, the international governing body for the sport of athletics, which includes track and field, cross country running, road running, race walking, mountain running, and ultra running, released new eligibility criteria today banning transgender women from participation in women’s world ranking competitions, effective on March 31, 2023.
The new rules ban transgender women who have gone through "male puberty" from World Rankings and world records in World Athletics competitions. For transgender women who have medically transitioned prior to puberty, athletes must maintain below 2.5 nmol/L testosterone levels.
The new rules also designated updated criteria for athletes with intersex variations. The updated policy will require athletes with intersex variations 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.
“World Athletics’ decision to ban all transgender women and place harsh restrictions on athletes with intersex variations does not protect the integrity of women’s sports and only further policing of women’s bodies,” said Chris Mosier, Founder of Transathlete.com, two-time National Champion and Team USA multisport athlete. “Each time an International Federation makes a policy that bans transgender athletes, we see a trickle-down effect to other policies. The real impact will be felt by youth athletes around the world who are now unable to pursue their athletic dreams, and who are bombarded with messages from sports organizations and lawmakers telling them that they do not belong and don’t deserve the same opportunities as their peers to experience the joy, connections, and camaraderie that comes with playing sports.”
For more information on World Athletics policy, click here.