Trans athletes banned from women’s triathlons

TRANSGENDER athletes have been banned from competing against women in British triathlons – but will be able take part in a new ‘open’ category.

In what has been hailed as a victory for fairness, competitive women’s events will be reserved for those who were born female. And in a first for UK sport, transgender and nonbinary competitors will take part in a new open category against men.

British Triathlon said it was introducing the rules because biological males had a ‘significant’ advantage over females in swimming, cycling and running.

Chief executive Andy Salmon said yesterday: ‘Where there is competitive activity, then fairness of competition is paramount – and it should apply to all levels of the sport.’

He admitted some may disagree with the policy, but insisted: ‘We firmly and passionately believe in doing what’s right for our sport, not necessarily what’s easy, or even what’s popular.’

The policy, which will take effect in January, will cover competitive triathlons – where there are prizes, timings or rankings – for athletes aged 12 and above, at both elite and grassroots level.

It was welcomed by Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, who last week held a summit with sporting bodies at which she urged them to stop transgender athletes competing against women. Mrs Dorries said: ‘In the world of competitive sport, the biology of athletes must be taken into consideration to maintain a level playing field for all.’

But equal rights group Stonewall said: ‘In sport, inclusion should always be the starting point.

‘Everyone deserves to benefit from the sense of well-being and community that sport brings – and that includes trans people.’