Weekly Round-Up

World Athletics protects women's sport, Oxfam chooses ideology, Dawkins lays down the law (of biology), and disgraceful scenes in New Zealand.

Hello everyone,

Here are some of the biggest news stories to emerge over the last week.

As always, please reach out with any stories you have come across.

Take care,

James

1.     World Athletics protects women’s sport

For once, there is some good news!

World Athletics announced its new policy regarding ‘trans’ participation in professional competitions, which will apply from 31 March.

No ‘transgender’ athlete who has gone through male puberty will be eligible to compete in female athletics competitions.

The significance of this cannot be understated, particularly in light of the fact that it vastly differs from their position in January, when they said that their “preferred option” was to simply tighten eligibility criteria based on minimum levels of testosterone.

This is clear recognition of the evidence which demonstrates that male puberty confers significant physiological advantages upon athletes, which lowering testosterone cannot mitigate against.

In announcing the new policy, President of Word Athletics, Lord Sebastian Coe, stated that the “overarching principle” was to “protect the female category”. This brings World Athletics in line with several other sporting bodies, including World Aquatics.

As is, unfortunately, to be expected, the announcement received significant and unwarranted backlash from trans activists.

India Willoughby, accused Lord Coe of having “gaslit” people.

Pink News described the decision as being the result of “moral hysteria”.

Mermaids made the disgracefully disingenuous claim that this new policy would hinder young people from engaging in physical exercise. This is so ludicrous that it needs no response.

Stonewall stated that they were “so disappointed” and “we stand with trans people who now have the door closed on their chance to compete in athletic sports on an international level”. As I quipped in response on Twitter: they can simply walk through the door that was biologically presented to them when they were born.