UN official calls for ban on male athletes in women’s sports to ensure fairness and safety

Male athletes should not compete in women’s sports due to their inherent physical advantages, according to Reem Alsalem, United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls.

Alsalem’s comments follow growing concerns about transgender athletes at the Paris Olympics, where safety and fairness in women’s sports have been questioned.

Presenting a report to the UN, Alsalem highlighted that male-born athletes pose a competitive imbalance and potential safety risks to female athletes.

She argued that “multiple studies offer evidence that athletes born male have proven performance advantages in sport throughout their lives,” making it essential for sports authorities to restrict female categories to athletes whose biological sex is female.

Alsalem’s report, while not legally binding, aims to stimulate dialogue on human rights and sports fairness. The controversy was further fuelled by the case of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who was disqualified from women’s boxing after a DNA test indicated “she” was ineligible to compete with women.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach noted the “complexity” of sex identification in sports, emphasizing that current methods like chromosome testing are insufficient. However, Alsalem remains firm that safeguarding women’s sports from unfair competition is critical for maintaining integrity and safety.

Image credit: Benoit Deschasaux