This week saw the global launch of the International Consortium on Female Sport “as the preeminent international lobby group to advocate for the preservation of the female sport category worldwide.”

In a landmark ruling this week, a US federal court has rejected the Biden administration’s bid to redefine “sex” to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” in federal law.

England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the latest sport to recommend restrictions on transgender participation in women’s competitions, in order to “ensure fair competition and safety” for female athletes.

Transgender male swimmer Lia Thomas (formerly William Thomas) has been nominated by the University of Pennsylvania for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year Award, prompting renewed backlash amongst athletes and commentators.

Things are looking up for women in the UK.

We are excited to announce the release of our new report, A Fair Playing Field: Protecting Women’s Single-Sex Sport.

FINA’s decision

A growing chorus of female sporting greats and sports scientists are calling on authorities to provide clear leadership to resolve contention on the issue of trans inclusion in women’s sport. Australian Olympic gold medalist, Giaan Rooney, is the latest to speak up, joining Dawn Fraser, Emma McKeon and Emily Seebohm in opposing the current policies that favour trans inclusion to the detriment of women. Rooney points out that the controversy surrounding transgender eligibility will continue for as long as the rules remain unclear.

Despite a considerable effort by the Australian Football League (AFL) to reform its culture in recent years following negative media reports of sexual assault and intimate partner abuse by players, the emergence of a number of damaging leaks and allegations have once again brought into question whether real reform has actually been achieved and the possibility that serious measures are needed.

According to journalist and former rugby league footballer Paul Kent, the Australian National Women’s Rugby League (NRLW) is considering its first trans player.