‘Ridiculous’: Raelene Boyle says trans women should not compete against biological women

Track legend Raelene Boyle has joined the chorus of former high profile athletes speaking out against transgender women competing in professional women’s sports competitions.

Aussie track legend Raelene Boyle – who was robbed of Olympic gold by testosterone-fuelled drug cheats – says it’s “ridiculous’’ that transgender women are being allowed to compete against biological women.

Boyle said she had sympathy for transgender athletes who had been left “all at sea’’ over the issue, but they should not be competing at the elite level against women.

Raelene Boyle. Picture: Brad Fleet

“It’s ridiculous,’’ she said, joining a chorus of sporting women to slam the move, including former swimming great Dawn Fraser.

“Of course they are going to be bigger and stronger. That’s just the way it is. It doesn’t matter how much oestrogen is taken. They still have higher levels of testosterone.’’

Boyle said it was unfair to put women against those born as men.

“It’s difficult for people to train so hard and then have to compete against others who have an advantage,” she said

Raelene Boyle. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Boyle is one of several former high profile athletes to join the chorus against transgender athletes competing against women.

Ms Boyle, 70, a three-time Olympic silver medallist, competed against the East Germans at the height of their doping program.

Boyle was beaten in the 100m and 200m by Renate Stecher, who was part of the East German doping program where testosterone was used on the women.

Raelene Boyle (R) losing to Renate Stecher in 200 final at 1972 Munich Olympic Games.

She said elite sport administrators needed to consider at a stand alone competition for transgender athletes.

“But clearly there are not many of those athletes around so that would be hard,’’ she said.

Dawn Fraser echoed the call, saying separate competitions would ensure fairness.

The swimming legend said our greatest Olympian Emma McKeon was correct in saying this week it would be unfair for women to be forced to swim against a “biological” male.

“I don’t think it’s fair to have transgender men competing against women,” Fraser, who won gold at the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Olympics, said.

“Why don’t transgender people compete against each other. That would solve all the problems?”

McKeon said she would personally not like to race against someone who was biologically a male.

“I do not think I am going to have to race against a trans swimmer. I do not think it is going to come to that point.,” she said.

Swimming Australia says “more discussions’’ need to be had around the issue.

Swimming Australia president Tracey Stockwell said “we are an inclusive sport’’ but we need to ensure fairness for all athletes.

In March, American swimmer Lia Thomas became the first US transgender woman to win an NCAA title – the top college swimming competition.

As a man, Thomas was ranked 532 in men’s swimming for her event. The International Olympic Committee is urging transgender inclusion on a case-by-case basis.

Kieren Perkins, Australian Sports Commission chief executive and 1500m Olympic freestyle gold medallist, said the current rules for athletes were appropriate.

“The coalition of major sporting groups and the human rights commission developed the guidelines for participation and elite sports that considers safety, fairness and inclusion,” he said.

“Transgender issues are not the highest priority on our agenda, there are a lot of challenges for women in sport, women’s safe enjoyment of sport, increasing women’s participation in sport, getting more women in professional coaching, development and administration are the areas we are focusing our energy on.”

Australian Sports Commission chief executive, Keiran Perkins. Picture: Warren Clarke.

Meanwhile, a leading LGBTI group accused Anthony Albanese of abandoning transgender people because it’s “politically convenient”.

Just. Equal Australia wants Labor to outline its plans on equality if it wins the May election.

“Labor was all over the LGBTI community when marriage equality was debated, they were running around waving rainbow flags. Where are they now?,” spokesman Brian Greig said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has continually publicly backed in his captain’s pick for the seat of Warringah Katherine Deves, who has come under attack over a series on now-deleted social media posts regarding transgender people.

“My preference is for girls to play girls, for women to play women, for boys to play boys, and for men to play men,” Mr Morrison said.

“I don’t think this is a terribly remarkable statement.”

The Liberal candidate for Warringah, Katherine Deves (centre). Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Mr Greig, who represented the Democrats in the Australian Senate between 1999 and 2005, said Labor could not duck the matter.

“Anthony Albanese needs to address the issue,” he said.

“This issue is not just about transgender women in elite sport, it’s about the growing awareness of transgender people and their expectation of equality.

“It’s not enough for Anthony Albanese to bat away questions about transgender people saying boys should play with boys and girls should play with girls.

“He needs to outline his commitments to the LBGTI community if they are elected.”

Mr Greig, who was the first MP to publicly acknowledge he was gay, also previously worked for the Labor Party.

Now based in regional Western Australia, Mr Greig said Labor was being held hostage to swinging seats in Western Sydney with higher than average religious groups.

“Suddenly they vacate the field because it’s not politically convenient,” he said.

“Most of the key groups opposing transgender people are from the No Campaign.”

Mr Greig said that the arguments being used against transgender people now were the same used against homosexuals in the 1980s.

“Albanese should look to the US where the Biden administration proactively dealt with the issue.”

Got a story tip? Email us at [e-mail]

Know some goss or seen something in your electorate? Contact us at [e-mail]

Originally published as ‘Ridiculous’: Raelene Boyle says trans women should not compete against biological women