This is a key piece of research, which has informed a lot of the decisions now being made.
www.uksport.gov.uk/news/2021/09/30/transgender-inclusion-in-domestic-sport
What the review is recommending
As a result of what the review found, the Guidance concludes that the inclusion of transgender people into female sport cannot be balanced regarding transgender inclusion, fairness and safety in gender-affected sport where there is meaningful competition. This is due to retained differences in strength, stamina and physique between the average woman compared with the average transgender woman or non-binary person assigned male at birth, with or without testosterone suppression.
Sports, however, are incredibly diverse and there can be no ‘one-size fits all’ approach. This review has concluded therefore that, for many sports, there may not be a common single competition model which will meet the needs of full transgender inclusion while retaining competitive fairness, particularly in female sport.
We are therefore encouraging and advising NGBs and SGBs to define the best options for their sport and determine whether it may be possible to offer more than one version of their sport to achieve the different aims.
NGBs and SGBs are encouraged, and will be supported, to use the decision-making framework set out below, in which they can consider how gender affected their sport is, and if appropriate, consider how this might be modified and adapted to offer multiple competitive or participation models.
The Sports Councils are committed to facilitating and promoting the education and decision-making process to enable NGBs and SGBs to make the best decisions for their sport and for their communities.
This Guidance also sets out the underlying principles which NGBs should consider when developing policies in this area, which are designed to create opportunities for sport to increase inclusion and the breadth of sport for everyone in society.