BBC article about women’s sport

[EweSurname]

In a relatively fair piece focussing on Sharron Davies, the bbc have highlighted some of the main concerns about trans inclusion in women’s sports that for once centres women and the impact on them

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/49110775

The article doesn’t mention that Rachel McKinnon actually wants to get rid of any requirement to reduce testosterone levels but other than that, I’m shocked that such an article has appeared in the bbc. There’s no exhortions to be kind or anything!

There's been a significant increase in articles like this in recent weeks. It's as if the penny has finally dropped in some quarters that there is a real issue. Maybe the involvement of these famous older elite athletes has given a level of publicity that that the many brilliant women's groups have been unable to achieve?
Although there's evidently still a mountain to climb it is heartening to see articles like this being written by the BBC who have spent so long in denial.

The IOC "added it was "committed to furthering inclusion, without discrimination based on gender identity and/or sex characteristics" and "is also concerned to ensure equality for women and their empowerment across sport".

This is a huge muddle from the IOC.

By not discriminating against gender identity and/or sex characteristics, they are automatically discriminating against women and their biology. In women's sports. How do these idiots not see this?

It is like saying that they want to include people on Segways in the men's marathon but that they're also committed to ensuring fairness for runners in that event. You can't have both, dimwits.

The solution is to disregard gender identity and sex characteristics entirely. Like you used to.

Females compete in the female category

Males compete in the male category

The end.

Statements like this from the IOC make me so cross. Utter idiots.
How do people that can’t even string a coherent sentence together manage to be in a position to set policy?

It’s an empty commitment if based on such fundamentally compromised principles. If you throw sex difference out of the window, women lose out in sport.

By not discriminating against gender identity and/or sex characteristics, they are automatically discriminating against women and their biology.

Is it discrimination to say that people should compete against their own sex in sex segregated competition? Gender identity is not sex.

The main argument seems to be that because there hasn't been a single trans olympian, and is unlikely to be (apparently), it's all fine. Sharron's coming under fire again for speaking up

This story has also just been on the Sports segment of the BBC news channel.

The BBC seems to be changing it's stance somewhat.

I have said it before, IMO the simplest way would be to classify by chromosomes.
XX = Female
XY = Male

I know there are a few very, very rare conditions that do not conform to this, but still, a Y chromosome = male.
Also, I doubt whether the very rare person who has a chromosomal abnormality is likely to be in a position to compete with elite athletes. There are usually associated physical challenges to deal with just in ordinary life.

Not all this nonsense about testosterone levels etc.

The main argument seems to be that because there hasn't been a single trans olympian, and is unlikely to be (apparently), it's all fine

Yet with the next Olympics closing in - any records set there will not be rescinded. And we've evidence of just how long it can take to give the medals to those who truly won them.

It might seem reasonable to hold objections until we see what the make-up of the national Olympic squads are but by then it will be too late - the women will not have had the training/medical support to allow them to be contenders.

The IOC appears then to be arguing for getting rid of women’s sport. They were certainly reluctant to include us in the first place.

There is absolutely no reason to discriminate on the basis of gender identity; it is irrelevant. However, sport must absolutely discriminate on the basis of sex (with a few established exceptions such a dressage)

It was this bit that got me:
However, some transgender women, such as masters track cycling world champion McKinnon, say reducing testosterone in their bodies results in "radical physiological changes".
Are they qualified to say this? I'm thinking not