World Athletics, the body that regulates international athletics competitions, decided this Thursday to ban transgender women from the women’s category starting next week. The measure will come into effect on April 1, and the international federation guarantees that it will be adopted to “protect women’s sport”.

The decision was announced by Sebastian Coe, president of the organization since 2015 and two-time Olympic 1500m champion in 1980 and 1984.

Coe clarified that no transgender athlete who was male at puberty will be allowed to compete in the women’s categories after March 31st.

In addition, the new World Athletics rules also tighten the blood testosterone thresholds allowed for participation in the women’s category. Currently, the threshold is 5 nanomoles per liter, and now it will be halved. Athletes will have to demonstrate a testosterone level of less than 2.5 nanomoles per liter for two years. The controversial decision dragged on with the scandal that affected the South African Caster Semenya.