RUGBY review of transgender women in women's sports

[mindtheclegs]

twitter.com/WNTTgra/status/1230840273854488577

World Rugby is preparing for a "comprehensive review" of the sport's policies on transgender players.

The governing body will hold a forum next week to consult "expert voices" and is seeking elite players' views.

As a reason for the review, World Rugby cites research suggesting that reducing testosterone does not lower strength and power proportionately.

"World Rugby's vision is 'a sport for all, true to its values'," said World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont.

"There is growing recognition of the importance of autonomy of gender identity in society and all sports are currently evaluating their policies to ensure that they are fit-for-purpose in the modern sporting and societal landscape.

"Rugby is no different and this forum makes it possible to explore the best available evidence and hear the relevant expert opinions."

World Rugby follows the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) policy. Guidelines issued by the IOC in November 2015 stated that transgender women must suppress testosterone levels for at least 12 months before competition. Testosterone is a hormone that increases muscle mass.

Athletes transitioning from female to male are allowed to participate without restrictions, but the IOC is currently developing new guidelines.

"It is important for contact sports, such as rugby, to find an appropriate position for player welfare and risk," a World Rugby statement said.

That looks to be a very thorough and ethical approach. I'll be interested to see if Nic Williams (FPFW) agrees as one of the participants.
And how very different from the approach of all? other sports organisations who have only listened to trans lobby groups and promptly handed over women's sports and sex segregated facilities to shouty born males.

I looked at the pic of the panel debating women’s rugby. Mostly men

Debating if women can play in a sport without having to include men in a woman’s sport

How did we get here to men deciding on what men can play in women’s sport

🤷‍♀️

It does look positive though don’t you think? From the detail provided there seems to be a lot of actual scientists and professionals, less activists and lobbyists. I really hope this is the start if the end of this stupidity, honestly I’ve had enough.

I was delighted to see that FondOfBeetles was one of the participants.

As was Dr Nic Williams.
I am pleased with this open process by World Rugby. I hope a sensible outcome based on facts not feelings is realised and other sporting federations follow suit.

Thread reader here

threadreaderapp.com/thread/1233013089085382656.html

That’s a great thread summary. Although I maintain I don’t think it should be necessary.

Totally agree. A (GC) workmate warned me off being too vocal yesterday. He had a point but I'm so literal about things and just can't believe we're in a place where we have to argue that biological sex is real and that some people consider that a controversial view.

very interesting, and sounds quite balanced, as far as i can see.

I still can’t quite fathom why such apparent complexity is needed to establish that male bodies and female bodies don’t belong in contact sports together. It’s not as if this was some wacky new concept, as humans have perfectly well understood this for as long as humans have been playing sport - how on earth did we used to know who wasn’t allowed to run a marathon until 1972? But apparently this is where we have to start from, so be it.

Pissed off that it’s mostly a group of men making these decisions, but at least there’s some representation of women’s interests in the room