Controversy Surrounds Asian Games Heptathlon: Swapna Barman Alleges Transgender Athlete Won Bronze
Indian heptathlon athlete Swapna Barman couldn’t secure her title at the Asian Games 2023 and finished in the 4th position, narrowly missing out on a medal, with Nandini Agasara, another Indian athlete, securing the bronze. However, Swapna Barman stirred controversy when she claimed that the bronze medalist is a transgender athlete who shouldn’t have been allowed to compete. She later deleted her post but left a trail of controversy.
Nandini Agasara’s Impressive Performance
Nandini Agasara achieved a personal best by accumulating a total of 5712 points in the heptathlon event. She secured the bronze medal by excelling in the 800m race, outperforming Swapna Barman. Nandini won the 200m race, earning her 936 points.
In a now-deleted social media post, Swapna Barman expressed her dissatisfaction with the outcome of the competition. She alleged that she lost her Asian Games bronze medal to a transgender woman, asserting that this violated the rules of athletics. She called for support and assistance to address the situation.
Swapna Barman’s allegations revolve around the eligibility of transgender athletes in women’s events. She claimed that transgender athletes with testosterone levels above 2.5 cannot participate in events over 200 meters, insinuating that her competitor’s rapid progress was questionable.
World Athletics Regulations
According to World Athletics regulations implemented from March 31 of the current year, athletes who have undergone ‘male puberty,’ as defined by World Athletics, are prohibited from competing in female world ranking events.
The controversy between Swapna Barman and Nandini Agasara drew mixed reactions on Twitter. Some athletics enthusiasts expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation and the India vs. India rivalry that emerged at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
After securing the bronze medal, Nandini Agasara expressed her gratitude to the Athletics Federation of India and the government of India for their unwavering support. She credited their assistance as instrumental in her journey to success.
Swapna Barman has called on authorities to address her concerns and reconsider the situation. It remains to be seen how this unfolding controversy will be resolved, considering that both athletes involved are Indian.
