World Athletics Council bans transgender athletes from women's competition

The World Athletics Council has banned transgender athletes from women's competition and has altered Differences of Sexual Development (DSD) athlete regulations.

For DSD athletes, the new regulations will require any relevant athletes to reduce their testosterone levels below a limit of 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 1 mile) under the previous regulations.

The provisions also 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 principle of restricted events has also been removed from the regulations.

On the topic of transgender athletes, World Athletics president Seb Coe said the council voting to exclude transgender athletes from women's competition.

World Athletics had previously proposed a possible reduction in testosterone level to DSD athletes for transgender athletes wishing to compete in women's competition, but Coe said that had been a prompt to fuller discussion, and after consultations the council rejected the option.