23 March 2023
World Athletics Bans Trans Women Who Have Undergone Male Puberty from Female Events
Discrimination International Trans
The World Athletics Council voted to exclude transgender women who have been through male puberty from competing in female World Rankings events, effective 31 March 2023. President Sebastian Coe stated the decision prioritised fairness for female athletes. A 12-month working group was established to consult transgender athletes and review further research.
Impact & Significance
Set the most restrictive policy of any major sport, effectively barring most trans women from elite women's athletics and influencing other governing bodies' approaches.
Reference Record
- Date
- 23 March 2023
- Era
- 2020-present
- Sources
- 2
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Questions This Event Helps Answer
Q How did LGBTQ+ athletes change sport visibility? LGBTQ+ athletes changed sport visibility by coming out publicly, challenging homophobia in elite sport, supporting inclusion campaigns, and exposing discriminatory eligibility rules. Q How did trans and nonbinary athletes change sport policy debates? They made eligibility rules, Olympic participation, medal visibility and football coming-out milestones central to LGBTQ+ sport history.
