British Rowing announced a new policy Thursday, banning transgender athletes from competing in the Women’s Category.
Their new policy comes with the announcement of three new categories starting September 11: Open, Mixed and Women’s. However, the new policy also states that for the Women’s Category, “Only individuals who are assigned female at birth will be eligible to compete in competitions under British Rowing’s jurisdiction and/or be selected to represent Great Britain, or England, in international events.” The policy goes on to state:
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. 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.
This comes as other sporting organizations have taken steps to restrict participation by transgender athletes in recent months with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), Swim England, World Athletics, Scottish Rugby, FINA, England’s Rugby Football Union and the International Rugby League, preventing transgender women or those who transitioned after puberty from competing in female categories. In the United States of America at least 22 states, including Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Mississippi and Texas have already passed laws banning trans women and girls from women’s sports leagues in schools and colleges, according to US nonprofit, the Movement Advancement Project. Studies out of Canada and New Zealand researching whether transgender athletes have an advantage in sports have been largely inconclusive.