https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rowing/2023/05/10/rowing-umpires-uproar-henley-trans-womens-regatta/
Officials are reportedly in "uproar" according to the DT after being told they are not allowed under British Rowing policy to question the gender of any junior competitors.
"If we have a crew of what we think are junior boys and yet they declare as junior girls, then we just have to accept it" said one umpire.
The warning sparked such consternation, according to the DT, that umpires expressed fears that it could make a mockery of the Henley Women's Regatta next month. Juniors are under 16s.
Carole-Ann Turner, an umpire, said it was totally ridiculous that you could have a whole category of Henley Women's being boys. They would only have to be second boat standard depending on when they've had their growth spurt. If you were to select those who have gone through puberty, even the bestJ16 girls wouldn't have a chance against them at all."
She said that if rowers got a medal and apply to certain universities, they won't ask what type of medal they've got. That means, depending on the university, that they could receive a £1,000, £2,000 or £3,000 as a bursary or rowing scholarship, so there is financial motivation for boys to do this.