UK Athletics call for law change amidst proposed transgender athletes allowance

London: UK Athletics wants the government to change the law relating to transgender athletes to ensure the women’s category can be reserved for competitors registered female at birth.

World Athletics has proposed to continue to allow transgender women to compete in the female category at international events.

A consultation process is underway with member federations, who will vote in March.

Other sports such as swimming have effectively banned transgender women from taking part in top-level events because of concerns that they have an unfair advantage.

World Athletics’ preferred option is to tighten the sport’s eligibility rules, yet still use testosterone limits as the key determining factor.

UK Athletics, which has a transgender project group to make recommendations, does not agree with the use of testosterone suppression for transgender women.

It would like to reserve the female category for those who were registered female at birth but does not believe the “sporting exemption” introduced in the Equalities Act of 2010 allows the lawful exclusion of transwomen in possession of a gender recognition certificate from competing.

UKA chairman Ian Beattie said: “Ultimately, we’re very keen we all recognise what we’ve got responsibility for — and the government are the only ones who can change legislation.

“That’s where we would look for that focus to be set. Certainly, I think they’re sympathetic to the approach that we want to take. That has been the feedback that we’ve had.

“It’s the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and Equalities Act 2010. It’s specifically the Gender Recognition Act 2004 which states that people with gender recognition certificates have to be treated as female for all purposes. And there’s not an exemption for that for sporting purposes.

“It’s fair to say that if we didn’t get a legal change, it would be very difficult for us to go ahead with this policy.”

UKA would welcome an open category, which would replace the current male category and be open to all athletes.

Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion Eilish McColgan has questioned World Athletics’ plans, saying: “Even if there’s a one percent advantage then it’s too much of an advantage.”

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.