Two major golf governing bodies, the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) and the USGA (United States Golf Association), have announced new guidelines that require female-born or pre-puberty trans women to compete in women’s events. The policies will take effect in 2025.
The guidelines state that athletes assigned female at birth can compete on various tours, while players assigned male at birth who went through male puberty are not eligible. Transgender women must prove they have not experienced any part of male puberty beyond stage two on the Tanner scale or before age 12, and maintain low levels of testosterone in their serum.
The USGA has also implemented similar guidelines, stating that players can compete at women’s events only if they were assigned female at birth or transitioned prior to male puberty. Both organizations emphasize competitive integrity and consulted with medical professionals worldwide.
High-profile transgender golfer Hailey Davidson expressed frustration on social media, citing the need for more research on the impact of hormone therapy on trans athletes’ performance. However, recent studies suggest that trans women’s abilities are comparable to cisgender women after 12 months of hormone therapy.
The LPGA and USGA have taken steps to address concerns about fairness in sports, but critics argue that a lack of scientific research is a significant issue.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/04/sport/lpga-usga-golf-transgender-policy-spt-intl/index.html