SW News: The World Athletics Council has voted to ban men from participating in women's sports. According to the council, male-to-female transgender athletes who underwent male puberty will not be permitted to join the female World Ranking competitions.

In a press release on Thursday, the international governing organization addressed the problem of male athletes identifying as female and participating in women's sports. They said the decision comes after the thought to defend female athletics.

According to the council, the decision will not impact the athletes currently because no transgender athletes are participating internationally. However, the council also clarified that they had consultation sessions with numerous transgender groups and other sports organizations in January and February.

Also, the council tightened testosterone limitations for other athletes. Athletes with Differences of Sex Development (DSD) must lower their testosterone levels to 2.5 nmol/L for 24 months across all events to compete in the female category.

According to Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, the decision to ban transgender women who have gone through male puberty was taken over the "overarching need to protect the female category." The new policy will go into effect on March 31. However, Coe further stated that the rules would only last for a while as further studies will be held over the same.