Prominent British female Olympians have joined a revolt against controversial new plans that could mean they have to race transgender women in future.
Established Team GB stars Beth Dobbin and Emily Diamond, as well as up and coming runner Ellie Baker, have now all said women should not be expected to compete against transgender athletes due to biological advantages.
World Athletics has begun to consult its member federations over a proposed rule change that would increase restrictions on trans women but not ban them completely, The Telegraph reported last week.
The governing body was said to be looking to halve the maximum amount of testosterone trans female athletes would be allowed, and double the amount of time they would need to maintain these levels before competing.
But Ms Dobbin, who reached the 200m semi-finals in Tokyo 2020, said that women 'deserve to compete exclusively against competitors who don't have any of the advantages that the female category exists to exclude'.
She added: 'Testosterone is what creates these advantages and lowering it doesn't level the playing field.'
Quick to back up her former teammate, Rio 2016 bronze medal winner Emily Diamond replied: 'The first sentence says it all.'
Also vocal in her opposition was Ellie Baker who wrote: 'I love track&field. I train hard everyday to reach my goals in this sport but if this is going to be allowed this will take away biological women's livelihoods.
'We don't stand a chance. We may as well give up now. I'm not anti trans. It's just a matter of what's fair & what isn't.'
Baker had previously criticised plans to allow transgender cyclist Emily Bridges to race women's events, writing in March 2022: ''How this has been allowed to happen is just ridiculous.
'I would refuse to race and hope that the other women would stand with me on this too.'
The furore comes after reports that the Government was planning a clampdown on trans women taking part in elite and competitive sport in the interest of 'fairness.'
Senior figures from major national sporting bodies are understood to have been asked to meet Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Michelle Donelan to discuss the matter.
An insider said she will insist that elite women's sport 'must be reserved for people born of the female sex'.
Open categories for transgender athletes are expected to be offered as a solution to the issue, which has caused problems among sports organisations and frustration among competitors.
British shot put champion Amelia Strickler has also blasted the possibility that trans women could continue to be allowed to compete in the female category - and said no amount of hormone suppression can cancel out the advantages of male puberty.
Strickler said biological women in the sport are 'screwed' if no one speaks up - and that the rules could even drive her towards retirement.
