Olympics and Paralympics: Competitors in Female Categories
Debate between Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town and Baroness Twycross
Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
To ask His Majesty’s Government what discussions, if any, they have had with the International Olympic Committee, British Olympic Association, or relevant governing bodies for British boxing, about reports of biological males boxing in the female category in the Olympics in Paris; and what discussions they have had with the relevant governing bodies about biological males competing in any female category of sport at the Olympics or Paralympics.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Twycross) (Lab)
It is for international federations to determine the rules for their sports at the international level. The Government have had no discussions with the IOC, the BOA or the boxing authorities about gender eligibility in sport in relation to the highly speculative reports that my noble friend’s Question relates to and repeats. Our sports councils have produced guidance providing domestic sports bodies with a framework to set their own policies for who can participate in their sports.
Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Lab)
I regret that Answer, which obviously means that the Government are not particularly concerned. While what happened in Paris affected women at the very top of their game, we will have fewer elite women if they have to compete against born men at grass-roots level. Whether in fencing, cricket, football or snooker, we are seeing British sports bodies dithering on whether it is fair or safe for born women to compete against born men, with all their inherent physical advantages. Can my noble friend the Minister discuss with all the sporting bodies how they propose to protect women’s sports at all levels, with regard to safety and fairness, to ensure that we develop a future crop of British female Olympians?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I will repeat the reason why the Government have not had any discussions with the IOC, the BOA or the boxing authorities about this highly speculative report that my noble friend’s Question relates to: it is highly speculative, and we cannot discuss things just because there is high speculation in the media about issues.