Complaint
The programme included an item on the decision by FINA (the International Swimming Federation) that trans women would not be eligible to compete in womenβs professional swimming events unless they had not experienced male puberty to any significant extent.Β A listener complained the item was biased against trans women and inaccurate in allowing it to be stated as fact that trans women enjoyed comparative advantages from having passed through male puberty.Β The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔβs editorial standards of impartiality and accuracy.
Outcome
In relation to impartiality, the ECU noted that the item included a contribution from a critic of FINAβs decision, who put the case that the results of womenβs swimming events did not bear out the belief that trans women had an unfair advantage, as well as from a supporter of the decision, and considered that the item had presented an appropriate range of views.Β In relation to accuracy, the ECU accepted that (as pointed out by the complainant) the statement by one of the contributors that βthe science does show that males who have gone through puberty have a significant advantage over femalesβ did not rest on peer-reviewed scientific studies indicating that trans women would have an advantage in all circumstances.Β It noted, however, that a number of studies had found physical differences resulting from male puberty which would be likely to confer an advantage in some sporting circumstances, and that the statement was made in a context where it had already become clear that there were differing views on the conclusions which could be drawn from the available scientific evidence.
Not upheld