The inclusion of trans athletes in women’s events could signal “the beginning of the end for female sport”, a state body was warned.
A report commissioned by Sport Ireland on transgender participation found that the issue of trans women competing in female events was the most contentious debate among sporting bodies.
Coaches interviewed for the study were said to have “strong feelings”. The report said: “This group expressed empathy and even sympathy towards transgender individuals but typically they were even stronger advocates for keeping females involved in sport and upholding the values of fairness and safety.”
The coaches said they feared the number of teenage female participants would “drop significantly” if transgender and non-binary individuals were allowed to take part in female events.
The study, prepared by Carbmill Consulting in July 2023, reported repeated concerns about trans women using female changing rooms.
One sporting body said it had a policy where participants came dressed in their kit and went home without showering or changing.
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Fears were also raised around the participation of trans women in boxing and martial arts. The report said individuals competing in those sports were “adamant that allowing transgender women to compete against females in their sports was unsafe and possibly unlawful”. More than one interviewee told the authors that watching a trans woman in MMA [mixed martial arts] was “akin to watching footage of violence against women”.
https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/trans-women-sport-ireland-report-cznq2txt5
this is in Ireland, where they have full self ID and everyone is happy and nothing bad happens because of it, apparently.