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World Athletics is asking every elite female athlete to help shape its rules on pregnancy, childbirth and the return to competition.<\/b><\/p>\n
The governing body has launched a new study it says can inform and improve its policies – and help to better protect and support female athletes.<\/p>\n
It is asking current and previous competitors to complete surveys, external<\/span><\/a> about their pregnancies and subsequent return to the sport, as well as quizzing those who have not been pregnant.<\/p>\n World Athletics says its wants to “protect female athletes and reduce inequities within elite athletics” and is looking at ways to support world rankings during maternity leave.<\/p>\n The organisation’s president, Lord Coe, said: “This is the next step in ensuring athletes who experience pregnancy are protected, receive support, and do not face barriers when it comes to being able to make a return to elite athletics.”<\/p>\n The Childbirth And Return in Elite Sport (Cares) project will aim to help women with barriers, professional and organisational support and contractual and financial considerations.<\/p>\n Sprinter Allyson Felix<\/a> – who won 11 Olympic medals – took on her then-sponsor, Nike, in 2019 over maternity pay, revealing Nike’s threat to cut her pay by 70% if motherhood affected her future athletic performance.<\/p>\n Three months later, Nike changed its stance and new contracts guaranteed an athlete’s pay and bonuses for 18 months around pregnancy.<\/p>\n British runner Calli Hauger-Thackery completed this year’s Boston marathon in two hours and 43 minutes while 22 weeks pregnant.<\/p>\n