By Victor Kanayo
The World Athletics Council rising from its meeting has voted to ban transgender female athletes from competing in the female category at international events.
According to the global body, the latest decision will take effect as from March 31, 2023.
The governing body’s president, Lord Coe, who disclosed this on Thursday March 23, said no female transgender athlete who had gone through male puberty would be permitted to compete in female world ranking competitions.
According to him, a working group will be set up to conduct further research into the transgender eligibility guidelines.
He said the World Athletics Council also voted to reduce the amount of blood testosterone permitted for athletes with Differences in Sex Development (DSD), such as South Africa’s Caster Semenya.
BBC reports that DSD athletes will be required to reduce their blood testosterone level to below 2.5 nanomoles per litre, down from five, and must remain under this threshold for two years in order to compete internationally in the female category in any event.
Under previous regulations, DSD athletes were only restricted in events ranging from 400m to a mile.
