Summarised by Centrist
Several former Olympians, doctors, and sports administrators have signed a letter to Sports Minister Chris Bishop. They are calling for government leadership regarding transgender inclusion in community sports.
They are concerned that Sport NZ’s current guidelines do not adequately protect the fairness and safety of female athletes.
The letter argues that, while inclusivity is important, “fundamental tenets of fairness and safety in sport have been disrespected by the SNZ document.”
Signatories include Otago sporting legends like swimmer Dave Gerrard and netballer Anna Stanley.
They claim that athletes who have undergone male puberty hold a physical advantage when competing against women, even with testosterone suppression. They argue that in contact sports, this advantage poses a safety risk.
The letter notes the importance of providing objective, science-based guidance rather than relying on ideology, saying, “Women’s sport can only remain fair and safe when male advantage is excluded.”
According to reports, just under a third of more than 60 taxpayer-funded sports organisations had a transgender inclusion policy in place. However, NZ’s only instance of a transgender athlete at the elite level so far has been weightlifter Laurel Hubbard at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
