Transgender track athlete CeCe Telfer was ruled ineligible to compete in the women’s 400m hurdles at the Olympic track and field trials after she failed to meet World Athletics qualifications.
USA Track & Field (USATF) released a statement regarding Telfer’s eligibility in compliance with World Athletics rules.
“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 U.S. Olympic Team Trials,” the statement read, the New York Post reported. “According to subsequent notification to CeCe from World Athletics on June 22, she has not been able to demonstrate her eligibility.”
USATF also said that their organization "strongly supports inclusivity and providing a clear path to participation in the sport for all, while also maintaining competitive fairness."
According to ESPN, to be eligible for an event, a transgender female athlete has to keep her testosterone levels below the 5 nmol/L thresholds for 12 months. World Athletics guidelines state that athletes can lower their testosterone using an oral contraceptive pill, a monthly injection of a hormone therapy drug or surgery to remove their testicles.
"It is their [athletes] choice whether or not to have any treatment, and [if so] which treatment to have," World Athletics said about their protocol.
Despite being disqualified, Telfer, a Franklin Pierce University alumna and first transgender NCAA titleholder, plans to continue pursuing her dreams of one day competing in the Olympics.
“CeCe has turned her focus towards the future and is continuing to train. She will compete on the national – and world – stage again soon,” Telfer’s manager, David McFarland told Associated Press.
World Athletics released their hormone guidelines in 2019 which prohibits athletes from participating in international women’s events between 400 meters and a mile whose testosterone levels were at 5 nmol/L or more.
"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," the group’s statement continued.
Last week, the Jamaican native published a blog in Women’s Health that referenced her painful upbringing, struggles with mental health and her love of sports.
“I can’t say enough about the positive impact that sports have played in my life,” she wrote in her article. “Obviously, as an elite athlete, it’s now my passion and focus. But even before that, it allowed me to prioritize myself, quiet all of the noise and hate, and stay committed to accomplishing my goals.”
“I love what I’m doing and I’m getting to live my truth and live my authentic life. I believe that this is my way of being the change that I want to see in the world. And I live by that every single day,” she concluded.
