The Scottish Mail on Sunday

Trans sporting events would ensure equality

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Olympic gold medal-winning road cyclist Nicole Cooke was spot-on in her article last week when she wrote that trans athletes must compete in a separate category so that each group can enjoy fair competitio­n on an equal basis.

She provided a very succinct and clear explanatio­n most reasonable people would concur with.

Nick Ellis, London

Sport is such an equaliser and, whether we participat­e or spectate, it has always been enjoyed at every level from the Olympics to local village football matches.

In today’s ‘all-inclusive’ society, we are very accepting and tolerant, but allowing biological men to compete in female sport is a step too far. It is not right that women and girls are dropping out of sports they love because they are forced to compete against the sheer physique and strength of those born as men.

Stasha Martin, East Preston, West Sussex

It’s great that trans cyclist Emily Bridges is living as her true self.

It must have been so hard to grow up knowing that she was in the wrong body. I really hope she goes on to have a successful career – despite recently being blocked to ride in women’s events.

We should be ashamed of ourselves if we put a stop to that.

A. Lee, Blackpool

The LGBT community preach about equality, but there isn’t any equality when a woman in a man’s body tries to compete with women.

There is clearly an unfair disadvanta­ge. Trans people should compete against other trans people in a separate category.

Mark Peterson, Swindon

Thank you Nicole for bravely speaking out about trans women competing in female sports. It needs to be urgently addressed by sport administra­tors.

If it is not quickly resolved, I fear it could become the death knell for women’s sport.

Of course, trans athletes must be allowed to compete, but it has to be in their own separate category.

Rob Lewis, Lincoln

If we don’t accept gender as binary, we should simply have a number of different categories.

Some women have naturally high testostero­ne and are banned from competing unless they reduce it by medication.

Why not have different classifica­tions as they have in boxing, with weight categories? Harold Andrews, Bradford

Trans women strongly wish to compete in sports against biological females. Fine, but should they win, award them just a token prize. Accolades and medals should be bestowed only upon rightful and deserving competitor­s.

Amanda Yates, Newcastle upon Tyne

In view of this debate about trans athletes, it seems only fair that all genders should compete together.

Maybe that is the only ‘woke’ way to do it, as it’s just getting over-complicate­d now.

Keith Scott, Basingstok­e

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