Transgender athlete sparks outrage among competitors after winning women’s running race

A transgender athlete competing as a woman has upset fellow athletes after she won a championship race last week in Anchorage, Alaska

Nattaphon Wangyot is a male-to-female transgender athlete who beat other female competitors at her high school state track and field meet to qualify for the state track championship.

Her victory has sparked complaints from other athletes and their parents who say she shouldn't have been allowed to take part because she is biologically male.

Peyton Young, one of the girls up against her, said: 'I don't know what's politically correct to say, but in my opinion your gender is what you're bo with.

'It's the DNA. Genetically a guy has more muscle mass than a girl, and if he's racing against a girl, he may have an advantage.'

The race at a school in Anchorage in the US state of Alaska, was also targeted by protestors from the conservative group Alaska Family Alliance, which reportedly arrived with dozens of supporters.

The group's president, Jim Minnery, told Alaska Dispatch News: 'Allowing students to play on teams of the opposite sex disproportionately impacts female students, who will lose spots on track, soccer and volleyball teams to male students who identify as female.'

But other pupils have been quick to defend the trans student, pointing out a defending female champion called Tanner Ealum was able to beat Wangyot previously.

Alia Bales said: 'If Tanner can beat her, anybody can have a chance to beat her.'