World Athletics deals a big blow to DSD, male-to-female transgender athletes

MONACO: The World Athletics Council has agreed to update the eligibility regulations for Transgender and Differences of Sexual Development (DSD) athletes, making it difficult for them to participate in international events for females. The new regulations requires DSD athletes to reduce their testosterone levels to compete in the female category in all events while the 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.

For DSD athletes, the new regulations will require any relevant athletes to reduce their testosterone levels below 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.

Earlier, they were allowed to participate in 400m and one mile, but the Council decided to bring in the new regulations during a crucial meeting here on Thursday. The principle of restricted events has been removed from the regulations, World Athletics informed in a release on its website on Thursday night.

Interim provisions will be introduced for those relevant athletes who are already competing in what were the unrestricted events (distances below 400m and above one mile, plus field events). These provisions include a requirement 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. The interim provisions do not apply to the previously restricted events (400m to one mile) where two years of testosterone suppression will be required before the relevant athlete is eligible to compete. IANS

Also Read: Women's Boxing World Championships: Nikhat Zareen , Lovlina Borgohain, Saweety, Nitu confirm medals

Also Watch: