Parents call for rule change after trans athletes dominate state championships
Stock image of athletics.
A debate has broken out after trans students dominated the Connecticut state championships for the girls 100 and 200-metre sprint events, with some parents arguing that they had an unfair advantage.
Terry Miller, a second year at Bulkeley High School, won both the 100 and 200-metre sprint finals, while Andraya Yearwood, a sophomore at Cromwell High School, won second in the 100-metre run, reports US television station WTNH.
Both students are transgender.
Some parents have been circulating petitions to change the rule that allows trans students to take part in athletics in accordance with their gender identity.
The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) told WTNH that their policy aligns with state law, which would have to be changed before any alterations could be made to the rules on athletic competitions.
Cromwell’s Andraya Yearwood is a state champion in the 100 dash. Ran 12.66 to win in 1st appearance at Class M Championships. #cttrack pic.twitter.com/8RELfAEeLF
— Courant HS Sports (@CTHSSports) May 30, 2017
Parents have now started two petitions protesting against the CIAC’s current policy on trans athletes.
One petition is being handed out at track events by a mother from Glastonbury, Bianca Stanescu. Her daughter Selina Soule had finished sixth in the 100-metre final, which was won by Yearwood.
“I have no problem with them being a girl and wanting to be a girl. My issue is with CIAC rules and their policy,” Soule told WTNH.
Terry Miller of Bulkeley sets another meet record in winning the girls 200m, 24.17 #cttrack pic.twitter.com/6hAaFApIwk
— GameTimeCT (@GameTimeCT) June 4, 2018
Stanescu is arguing that the CIAC should only allow male-to-female trans athletes to compete in the girls events if they have undergone testosterone suppression treatment, and then waited a specified amount of time before taking part.
“It makes a difference no matter what anybody says,” said Stanescu.
She added: “They could run with the girls if it’s an individual sport, however, their scores to count towards male athletes.”
The other petition, according to state newspaper Hartford Courant, was started by Jarmaine Lee – the father of two male runners in Plainville – and has been sent out to athletic directors at high schools in the state.
The debate over trans competitors has also spread to the elite level of athletics.
In April, it was revealed that the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the main body responsible for overseeing the Olympic games, is expected to announce new rules that would halve half the amount of testosterone permitted in female athletes.
The level of testosterone allowed will go down from 10 to five nanomoles per litre of blood in preparation for the 2020 Olympic Games in Toyko.
These rules are set to apply to 55 different Olympic sports including archery and wrestling, and may further impact transgender athletes’ ability to compete at the highest levels.
