LAUSANNE, June 25, 2021 – CeCe Telfer, who in 2019 became the first openly transgender women to win a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) title, will not be allowed to compete in the women’s 400m hurdles at US Olympic Trials in Eugene because she has not met the eligibility criteria set by World Athletics regarding testosterone levels.
Telfer was entered in this week’s trials at Hayward Field but her name was absent from the start list, with the USA Track and Field (USATF) saying in a statement that athletes must fulfil the requirements of World Athletics to be eligible.
The world governing body’s guidelines, which came into effect in 2019, require transgender athletes to reduce their testosterone levels to below 5 nonomoles per liter (nmol/L) for a period of at least 12 months before competing in international women’s events of between 400 meters and a mile.
“Following notification from World Athletics on June 17 that the conditions had not yet been met, USATF provided CeCe with the eligibility requirements and, along with World Athletics, the opportunity to demonstrate her eligibility so that she could compete at the US Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field,” the USATF statement said.
“According to subsequent notification to CeCe from World Athletics on June 22, she has not been able to demonstrate her eligibility.
“USATF strongly supports inclusivity and providing a clear path to participation in the sport for all, while also maintaining competitive fairness. If CeCe meets the conditions for transgender athlete participation in the future, we wholeheartedly back her participation in international events as a member of Team USATF.”
Telfer’s agent, David McFarland, told CNN in a statement, “The model of grace in the face of adversity, CeCe will respect USA Track & Field’s decision on her eligibility to compete at the US Olympic Trials this Friday in Eugene.
“CeCe has turned her focus towards the future and is continuing to train. She will compete on the national — and world — stage again soon,” McFarland said.
Telfer competed for NCAA Division II Franklin Pierce University men’s track and field team for three years before taking some time off. She returned to join the women’s team as a senior and won the NCAA title in the women’s 400-meter hurdles in 2019.
In its statement, USATF also said it “strongly supports inclusivity and providing a clear path to participation in the sport for all, while also maintaining competitive fairness.
It added: “If CeCe meets the conditions for transgender athlete participation in the future, we wholeheartedly back her participation in international events as a member of Team USATF.”
Earlier this week, transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard was selected for the New Zealand Tokyo 2020 Olympic Team, making her the first openly transgender athlete to compete at an Olympics
About the Author
