In news- Transgender women have been barred from competing in the female category by World Athletics (WA), the international governing body for track and field, following a vote recently.
Key Updates-
- Athletics’ global governing body has voted to ban transgender women who have gone through male puberty from competing in women’s events, citing a “need to protect the female category”.
- WA has followed the path of FINA(World Aquatics, formerly known as FINA), the international swimming federation, which enforced a similar ban in June last year.
- The decision was made after consulting 40 member federations, coaches, athletes, transgender groups, United Nations experts and the IOC.
- While some argue that going through male puberty gives transgender women physical advantages, supporters of transgender participation in sports say not enough research has been done into whether transgender women have any advantage.
About World Athletics (WA)-
- World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation and International Association of Athletics Federations is the international governing body for the sport of athletics, covering track and field, cross country running, road running, race walking, mountain running, and ultra running.
- It was founded in 1912, Stockholm, Sweden.
- World Athletics is headed by a president.
- The World Athletics Council has a total of 26 elected members, comprising one president, four vice-presidents (one senior), the presidents of the six area associations, two members of the Athletes’ Commission and 13 Council members.
- Each member of the Council is elected for a four-year period by the World Athletics Congress, a biennial gathering of athletics officials that consists of the Council, Honorary Members, and up to three delegates from each of the national member federations.Chairpersons and member of Committees, which manage specialist portfolios, are also elected by the Congress.
Who are transgender women?
- A trans woman or a transgender woman is a woman who was assigned male at birth.
- Trans women have a female gender identity and may experience gender dysphoria, distress brought upon by the discrepancy between their gender identity and sex assigned at birth.
- Gender dysphoria may be treated with gender-affirming care.
Source: The Indian Express
