‘GET TO KNOW YOUR TRANS PEERS’

Dr Madeleine Pape is an Australian sociologist and former athlete who developed a special interest in sport, gender and biomedicine after competing against Caster Semenya in the 2009 World Athletics Championships.

“We’re seeing more and more scientific and policy engagement with the question of how to decide the terms of participation for trans athletes and women who have natural sex variations. And the more we dig, the more this discussion becomes ever more complex – we have not arrived at a straightforward answer.

“It is not possible to impose blanket regulations, as they would not hold up scientifically. The trans population, and sport itself, are too complex and varied for that. And yes, the science does need to be rigorous, not least because of the value of inclusion for trans and genderdiverse communities – people who already encounter discrimination in society.

“My experience competing against Caster Semenya remains my compass in navigating this debate. It reminds me to consider: What does it actually feel like to be an athlete who is under scrutiny from spectators, rivals and the media? It’s given me empathy and helped me appreciate the complexity of this issue. As a coach, my message to cis-gender athletes is: I challenge you to welcome and get to know your trans peers – you’ve much to offer them and to learn from them in return.

“A really important message from women’s sports organisations is that the debate around trans inclusion does nothing to address the key challenges still facing women’s sport: the underrepresentation of women in coaching and leadership, unequal pay and prize money, and the sexual harassment and abuse of women athletes. Let’s have a real and honest conversation about that.”