As pushback grows against allowing biological males to compete against biological females, another sport has decided to say no.
Trans athletes will, however, be allowed to compete in mixed category races, “providing 50 percent of crew are eligible from the women’s category,” and in a new open category.
“British Rowing is committed to promoting an environment in which rowing is accessible and inclusive and to ensuring that we provide opportunities and enjoyment for everyone,” the statement reads. “In order to achieve this in a fair manner, we need to establish conditions for competition that guarantee fair and meaningful competition by placing necessary and proportionate restrictions on eligibility.”
New Policy for Swimming
In June 2022, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) announced its new policy on eligibility for the men’s and women’s competition categories (pdf).In the 24-page policy, FINA explained that a science group “comprised of independent experts in the fields of physiology, endocrinology, and human performance, including specialists in sex differences in human performance and in transgender medicine,” was tasked with examining “the most up-to-date scientific knowledge on (1) the impact of biological sex on athletic performance, and (2) the impact of gender-affirming medical transition on factors that influence athletic performance and to produce a report setting out their findings.”
In its report, the group concluded that “biological sex is a key determinant of athletic performance, with males outperforming females in sports (including Aquatics sports) that are primarily determined by neuromuscular, cardiovascular, and respiratory function, and anthropometrics including body and limb size.”
FINA decided that the only way biological males would be allowed to compete against biological females will be if they haven’t “experienced any part of male puberty beyond tanner stage 2, or before age 12, whichever is later.”
Biological males who do not meet the new standards will only be permitted to compete “in a new open category.”
So far, 22 states have passed state laws prohibiting biological males from competing in school sports programs against biological females.
“These laws mean that transgender girls, for example, would not be allowed to participate in sports with other girls,” they explained, labeling the policies as “both unnecessary and harmful.”
The governing body’s president, Sebastian Coe, said his decision was “guided by the overarching principle which is to protect the female category.”
Some Trans Athletes Agree
Caitlyn Jenner, one of the world’s most well-known transgender women, opposes allowing trans females to compete against biological females in school sports.Na Hwa-rin, a 37-year-old transgender cyclist who won medals at this year’s Gangwon Sports Festival in South Korea, also believes it isn’t fair for trans athletes to compete against biological females and that there should be a separate category for trans athletes.
“God forbid a trans person be successful in sports,” she said. “Get a grip on reality and take a step back.”
Biological sex is determined by genetics. The male sex chromosome is a Y and the female sex chromosome is an X. Males are born with an X and a Y chromosome, while females are born with two X chromosomes.
On April 20, the House of Representatives passed a resolution along party lines to bar transgender women and girls, who are biological males, from participating in programs designated for female athletes.
In an April 17 statement, the White House had already claimed the measure “targets people for who they are and therefore is discriminatory,” vowing that if the bill “made its way to his desk,” President Joe Biden “would veto it.”