CeCe Telfer a transgender track runner that was planning on competing in the Olympic games has been deemed ineligible to compete because they have higher testosterone thresholds than permitted, according to The Daily Wire.
“Following notification from World Athletics on June 17 that the conditions had not yet been met, USATF provided CeCe with the eligibility requirements and, along with World Athletics, the opportunity to demonstrate her eligibility so that she could compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials,” USATF stated.
“According to subsequent notification to CeCe from World Athletics on June 22, she has not been able to demonstrate her eligibility.”
“CeCe has turned her focus towards the future and is continuing to train,” McFarland stated.
“She will compete on the national — and world — stage again soon.”
“So it’s crazy! I’m the crazy one, to be the weakest female, the weakest link in the chain, to be competing against the top ones,” Tefler stated.
“I should be fingered as the stupid one, for wanting to do that in the first place.”
Telfer said, “In the two years since my groundbreaking NCAA Women’s Division II championship in the 400m hurdle, I’ve reached out to more than 200 coaches in hopes of qualifying for the 2021 Olympics. Only two responded, and one stopped replying to my emails after finding out I’m trans.”
“People will continue to point and laugh, but at the end of the day, all I can say is meet me on the track and we’ll see who is faster. To other athletes who don’t accept me as a competitor, meet me on the track and when we are running the same race, the books will tell you something you can’t deny: She’s fast.”
“I love what I’m doing and I’m getting to live my truth and live my authentic life.”
“I believe that this is my way of being the change that I want to see in the world. And I live by that every single day.”
From The Daily Wire:
CeCe Telfer is the first openly transgender woman to win an NCAA title, but will not be allowed to compete in the women’s 400-meter hurdles at the U.S. Olympic trials after failing to meet the World Athletics eligibility regulations.
Telfer had been entered in this week’s Olympic trials but was ruled ineligible based on the new guidelines released by World Athletics in 2019. According to Yahoo Sports, those guidelines are for international women’s athletes that compete in events between 400 meters and one mile and include that athletes’ testosterone levels must be below 5 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L) for a span of 12 months.
David McFarland — Telfer’s manager — told the Associated Press that Telfer would respect the decision.
Before transitioning, Telfer ran for the Franklin Pierce University men’s team. According to the Daily Mail, Telfer ranked 200th in 2016 and 390th in 2017 in Division II competition.
Telfer competed in the NCAA Women’s Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2019, winning a national title in the 400-meter hurdles along with being named an All-American.