Two elite British athletes have said that competitors should only be allowed to compete in the category of their biological sex and that men who identify as women should compete in an open category.
The women, who spoke up on the condition that they could remain anonymous, said that women’s sport needs to be protected.
According to the BBC:
Many argue that transgender women should not compete in elite women’s sport because of the perceived advantages they retain, but others argue that sport should be more inclusive.
In recent months, the debate has transcended sport, even drawing comment from UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson who does not believe transgender women should compete in female sporting events.
The athletes who spoke to BBC podcast The Sports Desk have asked to remain anonymous for fear of social media backlash and losing sponsorship deals.
They were advised against speaking out by those closest to them – but felt they needed to “stand up”.
“I believe sport needs to be kept in sex categories,” said athlete A. “That’s the only way it remains fair.
“The categories aren’t there for gender identity. The categories are there for sex and the difference between the two sexes.”
Athlete B added: “Competition needs to be fair; it’s meaningful if it’s fair.
“The whole point of competition is to make a fair and level playing field and the only way to do that is to have a female category and a male open category, where trans women can compete and it’s a level playing field.
The debate around transgender athletes has recently focused on the case of transgender cyclist Emily Bridges.
In March, the 21-year-old was ruled ineligible to compete in her first elite women’s race by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), cycling’s world governing body.
The process to rule on Bridges’ eligibility to race in international competitions is continuing, while British Cycling has suspended its transgender policy.
Bridges began hormone therapy last year as part of her gender dysphoria treatment and has now become eligible to compete in women’s events because of lowered levels of testosterone.
She said she had been “harassed and demonised” after being told she could not compete.
Female athletes should unionise and refuse to compete with males. There is no such thing as a trans woman. There are only men who identify as women.
Of course, they should be allowed to live with dignity and in peace, but they should not be allowed to take up a place that has been reserved for a woman.
They should not be allowed to replace women.
