World Athletics launch process that may allow transgender compete

World Athletics has launched a consultation process that, for now, may enable transgender women to continue competing in the female category.

With the governing body’s immediate focus on the athletes with difference of sexual development who are competing for the highest honours, the “preferred option” set out in a paper seen by The Times is a halving of the maximum plasma testosterone levels (from five nanomoles per litre to 2.5 nmol/L) and a doubling of the period (12 months to 24) during which they have to stay below that threshold.

Men usually have a testosterone level of 10 to 35 nmol/L, while a woman’s level is between 0.5 and 2.4 nmol/L. Coe insisted that “fairness” and “protecting the female category” remain his priority. “As I’ve always said, we will follow the science.”

World Athletics said: “Putting forward a preferred option is the best way to gather constructive feedback, but this does not mean this is the option that will be presented to the council.”