UK Athletics will "consider the introduction of a third gender designation into its competitions in a move that could begin to resolve one of the sport's thorniest issues," according to Mark Woods for INEWS. A discussion paper on a rule change that would allow competition organizers to create a "non-binary category alongside male and female" has been formally tabled ahead of the biennial updating of domestic track and field's rulebook, which will take place "in the new year." Initial talks have reportedly already taken place over "how such a change could be implemented." An official said, "Any final changes agreed by the sport goes to the UKA board at end of year." The concept has been "primarily sold as promoting an equality agenda," with its draft suggesting a "third gender category could be applied to the race without it affecting permitting or insurance" (INEWS, 10/31). Woods also reported Scottish Athletics "quietly piloted the concept of a non-binary category to nestle comfortably alongside male and female, an acorn of an idea which will pass to UK Athletics." Scottish Athletics CEO Mark Munro said, "Firstly, it's come from requests from within our membership to recognize people's needs and that's when you look at a third-gender designation and how it might work with UK Athletics and IAAF rules. It's not about Caster Semenya. It's about supporting our membership and it's something we've already looked at in terms of Scottish Athletics, and UKA, achieving our Equality Standard." The initial pilot event -- June's Pride Run in Edinburgh -- "attracted 60 ticks in the third box" and while the returns from a second trial in last Sunday's Jedburgh 10k are not yet available, "informal figures were higher than expected." Munro: "It has made us sit up and notice certainly" (SCOTSMAN, 11/1).
