World Athletics permits transgender women to contest in female category

A new idea that is mentioned in the World Athletics consultation paper could permit transgender women to compete at the highest level in the female category, according to reports in the media. A decision could be made following voting in March. According to the source, the new regulations would also apply to athletes at different stages of sex development, such as Caster Semenya of South Africa, who is now prohibited from competing in events lasting between 400 metres and one mile. Transgender athletes, as per World Athletics ‘preferred option’, will have to keep their maximum testosterone level to 2.5 nanomoles per litre for a period of two years. The current regulations, known as the Female Classification Eligibility Regulations To enable athletes to compete in races from the 400-meter to the mile, athletes with different sex development set the threshold limit for testosterone at 5 nanomoles per litre for a period of six months.