America is closing the door on trans women athletes. And spreading a false image of "fairness"
Justification? Protecting women from "unfair competition". Facts? Vague, or outright untrue. And yet it was enough to get one of the world's largest sports organizations to change its policy in concert with a president who repeatedly spreads misinformation about trans people and uses them as scapegoats in the culture war.
In reality, there is no sporting 'trans women problem'. A 2023 independent scientific analysis commissioned by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport found, based on dozens of studies, that trans women - as long as they follow the rules about testosterone levels - have no biological advantage in elite sport. On the contrary: factors such as quality of training, nutrition or social background play a major role in athletic performance. Areas where trans people often face obstacles.
The Committee's decision cannot therefore be seen as anything other than a political gesture. As such, it has a deeper impact than just on sporting competitions. It legitimises the idea that trans people are not 'real enough' to be part of public life. It normalises exclusion. And it threatens the very foundations of a democratic society that is supposed to be based on equality, respect for minorities and the protection of human rights.
It is tragic that sport, the very space that is supposed to bring people together and celebrate human diversity, is becoming an instrument of exclusion. But it is even sadder that this is happening with the help of institutions that should be non-partisan, resistant to political pressure and scientifically informed.
Europe should be on its guard. In this country, too, there are increasing voices advocating restrictive measures against trans people under the pretext of 'protecting women'. It shows how easy it is to relativise basic human rights when they are based on simplistic narratives and emotionally charged rhetoric.
This makes it all the more important to be vocal now. To speak out about the fact that trans people belong in society. That facts matter. And that a truly fair sport is one that doesn't exclude anyone based on identity, but protects everyone - indiscriminately.
