Thread by @fairplaywomen

Listen to @DrDavid_hughes being interviewed on @bbcworldservice about trans eligibility in women's cricket. He is Chief Medical Officer of Australian Institute of Sport @theAIS. I expected him to give us some robust science to prove its fair.... but no /1 bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0…

@DrDavid_Hughes @bbcworldservice @theAIS The interview starts 15 mins into the programme. He mentions the 'blowback' about the policy but dismisses it as 'misinformed'. He is 'confident' that 10 years from now it will be shown to be 'hyperbole'. He says the more trans players he meets the less worried he becomes'. /2

@DrDavid_Hughes @bbcworldservice @theAIS But when pressed on science he hasn't got much to give. Will reducing Testosterone for 12 months be enough? "only time will tell". /3

@DrDavid_Hughes @bbcworldservice @theAIS When questioned about the testosterone limit of 10 nmol/L being much higher than women he said most trans females on hormone suppression tablets have barely detectable levels. WRONG. Testes removal achieves this but NOT hormone treatment. /4 medscape.com/viewarticle/89…

@DrDavid_Hughes @bbcworldservice @theAIS If there's a 'rash of trans females showing advantage' then sports will likely adjust their policies. He admits its 'quite likely' that they will. So basically, the women's game is just a live experiment... fairness and safety for women in their own game a minor concern. /5

@DrDavid_Hughes @bbcworldservice @theAIS Luckily @sportaustralia has a helpful guide to the 'research' supporting trans inclusion in sport. At last some scientific evidence to support their inclusion policy! But no.... /6

@DrDavid_Hughes @bbcworldservice @theAIS @sportaustralia This 'Research' isn't about the performance advantages. It's just 14 reasons why trans people feel excluded from sport and how lovely it would be if they could play in the women's team. Sympathy for trans people doesn't make it fair or safe. /7 sportaus.gov.au/__data/assets/…

@DrDavid_Hughes @bbcworldservice @theAIS @sportaustralia # BBCstumped @BBCWSSport. How about following up this interview with the female perspective on whether the trans eligibility policies in women's cricket is fair? Let your listeners judge if this 'blowback' is 'misinformed'. This for example fairplayforwomen.com/emma_hilton/ /8

@DrDavid_Hughes @bbcworldservice @theAIS @sportaustralia @BBCWSSport Or perhaps a few articles on the topic like this /9 fairplayforwomen.com/tw_in_sports/ fairplayforwomen.com/sport_info/ fairplayforwomen.com/compliance/