Transgender Eligibility in Athletics in the United Kingdom

 

1. UK Athletics notes the revised World Athletics Eligibility Regulations for Transgender Athletes released on 23 March 2023 and coming into effect on 31 March 2023 (“World Athletics Transgender Regulations”).

 

2. UK Athletics recently published a statement setting out the position it reached following consultation with stakeholders and its Transgender Project Group. UK Athletics also recently responded to a World Athletics consultation regarding proposed changes to the World Athletics Transgender and DSD Regulations. UK Athletics is grateful to World Athletics for the opportunity to contribute to the formation of policy in this area.

 

3. UK Athletics can now confirm it has also received the required assurances from relevant bodies that the sporting exemption in the Equality Act 2010 applies to the Gender Recognition Act 2004.

 

4. The position of UK Athletics remains that:

 

a. It is fair for athletes who have gone through male puberty to be excluded from the female category in Athletics.

b. Athletics should remain an inclusive sport.

c. It remains concerned about the ethics of coercing individuals to undergo pharmacological intervention purely for sporting purposes.

 

5. UK Athletics:

 

a. Acknowledges and appreciates the efforts made by World Athletics to protect the female category in Athletics.

b. Will apply the World Athletics Transgender Regulations to competition in the United Kingdom licenced by UK Athletics or any of the Home Country Athletics Federations (“HCAFs”) from 31 March 2023, subject to the transitional arrangements set out below.

c. Will work with Its Transgender Project Group and the HCAFs to develop a Transgender Eligibility Policy for use in the United Kingdom. Consideration will be given to changing the current male category to an open category.

 

6. In relation to transgender eligibility, this Principle Statement supersedes and replaces the UKA Eligibility for Competition: Transgender and Female Classification Regulations (“2021 UKA Policy”).

 

7. From midnight on 31 March 2023, UK Athletics applies the World Athletics Transgender Regulations to all athletics competitions and events in the United Kingdom where the licence for the competition or event is granted by UK Athletics or a HCAF, subject to the following transitional arrangements:

 

a. Any transgender athlete who has already entered a competition or event in the category that is not their biological sex having complied with the 2021 UKA Policy will remain

eligible to compete in that event but may not accept any prize and their results will not count towards any record, qualifying time or mark, or team scoring. For example, a transgender woman athlete who has entered the female category in an event based on the proper application of the testosterone suppression requirements set out in the previous World Athletics Eligibility Regulations for Transgender Athletes will remain eligible to compete but will not be eligible to receive a prize/ money or set a record or qualifying mark or count towards team scoring.

b. In England, Scotland and Wales, the World Athletics Transgender Regulations will not apply to local School events other than Home Country National School Championships and those events where athletes can qualify for Home Country National School Championships.

c. In Northern Ireland, the World Athletics Transgender Regulations will not apply to local School events other than the Ulster Schools Championships and those events where athletes can qualify for the Ulster Schools Championships.

 

8. The UK Athletics Competition and technical Rules shall, where required, be interpreted to give effect to this Principle Statement.

 

9. UK Athletics may amend or revise this Principle Statement.

 

Athletes with Differences of Sex Development - Eligibility in Athletics in the United Kingdom

Principle Statement

31 March 2023

1. From midnight on 31 March 2023, UK Athletics applies the World Athletics Eligibility Regulations for the Female Classification (Athletes With Differences of Sex Development) (“World Athletics Female Classification Regulations”) to all athletics competition in the United Kingdom where the licence for the competition or event is granted by UK Athletics or a HCAF, subject to the following transitional arrangements:

 

a. In England, Scotland and Wales, the World Athletics Female Classification Regulations will not apply to School events other than Home Country National School championships and those events where athletes can qualify for Home Country National School Championships.

b. In Northern Ireland, the World Athletics Female Classification Regulations will not apply to local School events other than the Ulster Schools Championships and those events where athletes can qualify for the Ulster Schools Championships.

 

2. In relation to female classification, this Principle Statement supersedes and replaces the UKA Eligibility for Competition: Transgender and Female Classification Regulations.

 

3. The UK Athletics Competition and technical Rules shall, where required, be interpreted to give effect to this Principle Statement.

 

4. UK Athletics may amend or revise this Principle Statement.