British Rowing bans men from women’s events

Only biological women will be able to compete in “Women’s Category” competitions, British Rowing has announced.

Reversing its 2022 decision, which allowed men to compete in women’s events, the governing body said the new policy was necessary to “guarantee fair and meaningful competition”.

Last year, a survey showed that the majority of the British public do not believe biological males should be allowed to compete against women.

Evidence based

Under the amended rules, only females “will be eligible to compete in competitions under British Rowing’s jurisdiction”.

Previously, men who identify as women were able to compete in the female category on the basis of testosterone levels.

But now, British Rowing explained: “Having reviewed further scientific evidence, consulted with our members, and considered World Rowing’s updated guidance, we have decided to move to what we think is the fairest position for competition.”

According to The Daily Telegraph, more than 80 per cent of British Rowing’s 31,500 members support the change.

Cycling

Biological males have also been banned from women’s races at the Cycling World Championships in Glasgow, following a recent ruling by Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).

Prior to the Championships, UCI announced that male athletes who have ‘transitioned’ after puberty “will be prohibited” from its calendar of women’s events.

In May, Austin Killips caused an uproar in the cycling world after he became the first biological male to win a UCI Women’s Stage Race.

After Killips’ win, three-time Olympian cyclist Inga Thompson urged fellow athletes to ‘start taking a knee’ at the start of races in protest at UCI’s then policy allowing biological men to compete in women’s races.