Girl gymnasts told to share rooms with trans athletes

FEMALE gymnasts must use the same changing rooms as males who identify as the opposite sex, the sport’s governing body has ruled.

Women and girls participating in official competitions across Britain have also been told by British Gymnastics they must share accommodation with boys and men who identify as female.

The body, which is comprised of more than 350,000 members, the majority of them under 16 years old, has banned coaches from telling parents their daughter is sharing a room with a boy who identifies as female.

It said parents who were “unhappy” with the change must make alternative arrangements.

The move, influenced by advice from transgender campaigners, has provoked anger from parents who claim the safety of their children has been placed at risk.

One mother, known only as Tracy, told the Mail On Sunday: “When I phoned British Gymnastics, the receptionist told me they had been inundated by phone calls from unhappy parents. The fact that boys are now allowed to change with the girls is a safeguarding nightmare. I’m not happy about this at all and nor is my daughter.

“When I spoke to the other parents at the club, they couldn’t believe a sporting body would put children at risk in that way.”

In a further ruling, boys and men who identify as female will be allowed to participate in female-only gymnastic competitions.

A British Gymnastics spokesman said: “We believe our guidance on the inclusion of trans people is consistent with our safeguarding policies and have no reason to believe that it compromises anyone’s safety or welfare.”