Athletes label decision as ‘ridiculous’

TWO prominent athletes and former scholars of an all-girl school say transgender athletes cannot and should not be allowed to compete in the girls’ division at the 2020 Coke Games.

They oppose the Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Association’s decision to follow World Athletics rules which allow transgender athletes to compete in the girls division at athletics competitions.

Jasper Williams High School Old Girls Association president Mereoni Rokoca said the move would unfairly take the opportunity away from female athletes to win medals.

“I think Fiji should not allow this immoral and un-Christian behaviour just like how our Prime Minister disallows same sex marriage in our country,” she said.

Ms Rokoca said transgender athletes would still have male hormones and characteristics within them which would make them run faster, jump higher and throw longer distances than female competitors.

Similar sentiments were shared by former Adi Cakobau School head girl and sprinter Ana Kaloucava.

“I believe that is unfair and I disagree with that rule because the performance gap between a female and male athlete is proven beyond doubt based on the records we have,” she said.

“There is strong evidence that testosterone correlates with athletic performance.”

Pacific Games gold medallist and Oceania Championship high jumper Malakai Kaiwalu labelled the decision “ridiculous”. He said transgender athletes would most likely end up winning gold medals that female athletes trained hard for.