The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) released a scientific review saying transgender women should be allowed to compete in sports with biological women. .“This literature review makes it clear we need more scientific data derived from methodologically sound research focused on trans women athletes to build a foundation of solid evidence and to ultimately guide policy recommendations,” said CCES President and CEO Paul Melia in a press release. .“The review suggests sports should support inclusion of trans women in the female category in sport until there is robust and peer-reviewed evidence that it is not safe or fair for other competitors.” .The review recommends all reasonable efforts should be taken to make sports inclusive and accessible for transgender women. It said there is no firm proof trans women perform better than biological women after one year of testosterone suppression. .The scope of this review was limited to elite athlete trans women, and it was not sport specific. It said this information does not apply to other levels of sport and transgender men and non-binary athletes. .It went on to say the impacts of sport inclusion policies are significant and reach far beyond to affect how trans people are included in other areas of society. Sports can have a positive impact on trans people’s physical and mental health and can contribute to more opportunities..The CCES, Canadian Women and Sport, and AthletesCan collaborated on the project and are dedicated to working with athletes and sport organizations to identify a path ensuring all transgender people are included and safe in sports. The review said the groups are consulting with transgender and biological athletes and national sport organizations to develop educational resources to promote inclusion. .Swimming world governing body Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) voted in June to restrict transgender athletes from competing against women and said it plans on implementing a new open category for them in some events. .READ MORE: FINA votes to ban transgender swimmer Lia Thomas from competing against women.The vote, which was 71.5% in favour, took place after FINA heard speeches from representatives of a working group set up in 2021. This working group consisted of three specialist groups — athletes, science and medicine experts, and legal and human rights advocates. .The debate intensified after University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas became the first transgender NCAA champion in Division I history after winning the women’s 500-yard freestyle.
