Trans athletes decry ban

Transgender athletes have condemned World Athletics' exclusion of transgender women from elite female competitions, while the decision was welcomed by some sportswomen as a win for fairness.

Athletics' global governing body on Thursday voted to ban transgender women who have gone through male puberty from competing in women's events, citing a "need to protect the female category".

"What's happening is the most vulnerable are being excluded from sport more for political reasons," Canadian cyclist Kristen Worley, a transitioned athlete told Reuters.

Ricki Coughlan, one of Australia's first transgender athletes in professional running, said WA's ruling would embolden the "forces of hate" against transgender people.