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Sport鈥檚 transgender conundrum

A special edition exploring the issues surrounding transgender women in women鈥檚 sport.

In a special, extended edition of The Sports Desk, Sarah Mulkerrins, Dan Roan and Jane Dougall explore and explain the issues surrounding transgender women competing in women鈥檚 sport.

With the governing bodies of cycling and swimming reviewing their transgender policies and widespread calls for more leadership from the International Olympic Committee, what happens next as sport wrestles with a complex balance of inclusion, sporting fairness and safety?

We鈥檒l hear from two elite GB runners, who want clear regulations to protect women鈥檚 sport and a separate 鈥渙pen category鈥 to include men and trans athletes.

Transgender racing driver Charlie Martin tells the story of her transition and calls the exclusion of trans women in sport 鈥渋nhuman鈥 and 鈥渃riminal鈥.

Sports scientist Ross Tucker says the International Olympic Committee have prioritised inclusion 鈥渁t the expense of the integrity of women鈥檚 sport鈥, while Loughborough University sports scientist Joanna Harper says 鈥渄efinitive answers鈥 on any athletic advantages for trans women are 20 years away.

Lastly, Magali Martowicz, Head of Human Rights at the IOC, defends their guidance that there should be 鈥渘o assumption鈥 that trans women have an advantage and that sports bodies should decide their own policies on a 鈥渃ase by case鈥 basis.

Panel: Sarah Mulkerrins, Dan Roan, Jane Dougall

Producer: Sam Sheringham

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1 hour, 10 minutes

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