‘I don’t understand’ Sharron Davies blasts decision to allow trans athlete to take part in women’s cricket
Sharron Davies is critical of Canada's decision to select a trans athlete
GB NEWS
Olympian Sharron Davies has blasted the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) landmark decision to allow a transgender cricketer to play in an official match.
Canada’s Danielle McGahey has been included in her national squad for a qualifying tournament that leads to the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.
The 29-year-old has had to adhere to an eligibility criteria, set out by the ICC, put in place for all male-to-female transgender players.
McGahey’s participation has come amid a swathe of anti-trans policies from sports such as athletics, cycling, swimming and both codes of rugby.
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Each of the sport’s authoritative bodies have banned transgender women from taking part in elite women’s competition.
Speaking on GB News, former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies says the ICC’s decision marks a step back in the battle for a level playing field in elite competition.
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“I just don’t understand it”, she told Dan Wootton.
“You say this person was born male, he is still male. Humans can’t change their biological sex.
“Men will throw a ball 25 per cent faster, and at the moment, every single piece of peer-reviewed science we’ve had said we can’t remove male puberty advantage.
“So we’re basically saying that this trans-identifying male can go into women’s sport, with a known advantage, and displace a female athlete from competing for their country, and that is all ok. I just don’t understand.
Danielle McGahey will compete for Canada
REUTERS
“We have fought for years to get equality for women in sport, but you’re taking away the opportunity for a woman in this sport to do what they love for a living.”
McGahey emigrated from Australia to Canada in February 2020, socially transitioned to a woman in November 2020 and started medically transitioning in May 2021.
The trans woman told BBC Sport that she is “absolutely honoured” to be representing her “community” and defended the decision to allow her participation.
McGahey said: "In order to determine [my testosterone levels], I've been doing blood tests every month now for over two years. I also have to put in my player profile who I have played against and how many runs I've scored.
"A lot of work with my doctor sending my medical information through to the ICC... they have a dedicated medical officer who looks over all of the information provided, and determines whether or not I have provided enough for an expert panel to make a decision.
"The need to do blood tests every month is probably the biggest challenge because when you are playing cricket you are travelling a lot.
"It's very personal in terms of the information you are giving over - all your medical information, history of puberty, any surgeries. There's a lot in it. But the protocols are there and it has been used as intended."
An ICC statement said: "We can confirm that Danielle went through the process as required under the ICC's player eligibility regulations and as a result, has been deemed eligible to participate in international women's cricket on the basis that she satisfies the MTF transgender eligibility criteria."
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