British Rowing restricts women’s category to athletes ‘assigned female at birth’

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British Rowing released new eligibility guidelines that will restrict transgender athletes from competing in women’s events in order to "guarantee fair and meaningful competition," the sports governing body announced this week. 

The new rules will go into effect on Sept. 11 and will include policies for three categories: women’s, mixed, and an open category. 

A detail of a British oar ahead of the 2022 World Rowing Championships on Sept. 22, 2022 in Racice, Czech Republic. (Adam Nurkiewicz/Getty Images)

"British Rowing is committed to promoting an environment in which rowing is accessible and inclusive and to ensuring that we provide opportunities and enjoyment for everyone," the statement read. 

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"In order to achieve this in a fair manner, we need to establish conditions for competition that guarantee fair and meaningful competition by placing necessary and proportionate restrictions on eligibility. We already do so in lightweight and adaptive rowing categories, and we are now doing so in the women’s category." 

According to the new policy, the athletes eligible for participation in the women's competition must be "assigned female at birth."

A rower in action during the GB Rowing Trials and Small Boat British Championships at the Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake on April 15, 2023 in Caversham, England. (Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

"Only individuals who are assigned female at birth will be eligible to compete in competitions under British Rowing’s jurisdiction and/or be selected to represent Great Britain, or England, in international events," the