Calay News
French sprinter Halba Diouf has expressed her frustration after World Athletics (WA) banned transgender women from elite female competitions, effectively ending her dream of participating at the Paris Olympics in 2024. WA’s new measures require transgender women who have gone through male puberty to be excluded from women’s events, citing the need to protect the female category. Previously, transgender women were allowed to compete if their testosterone levels were below a certain threshold. Diouf, who was born in Senegal and transitioned to France, said that she feels marginalized and excluded from competitions due to the ban.
The issue of transgender athletes in sports has been contentious and divisive, with arguments surrounding inclusivity and fairness. LGBTQI advocacy groups argue that excluding trans athletes amounts to discrimination, while WA President Sebastian Coe stated that fairness for female athletes must be maintained above all other considerations. Previously, female transgender athletes and athletes with differences in sex development (DSD) could participate in elite events between 400m and the mile if their natural plasma testosterone levels were below five nanomoles per liter. However, the new rules cut the maximum amount of plasma testosterone for DSD athletes in half to 2.5 nanomoles per liter and require the level to be maintained for at least 24 months before they can compete in female competitions.
Diouf’s endocrinologist stated that she is a woman from a physiological, hormonal, and legal point of view, with her testosterone levels below those found on average in women who were born as women. Diouf, who loves shopping and wears both mini-skirts and long djellaba robes, said that she had not kept any pictures of herself as a boy. She believes that transgender women are being denied their right to live as they wish and are being hounded, leading to her feeling excluded from competitions.
