In a statement, the national governing body said only athletes who are "assigned female at birth" will be eligible to compete in its women's competitions and represent Britain or England in international events.

The women’s category will become one of three within British Rowing from the new date.

The others will be an open category in which "all individuals will be eligible" to compete, and a mixed category, which will involve 50 per cent representation from those in the women’s category.

"British Rowing is committed to promoting an environment in which rowing is accessible and inclusive and to ensuring that we provide opportunities and enjoyment for everyone," a statement said.

"In order to achieve this in a fair manner, we need to establish conditions for competition that guarantee fair and meaningful competition by placing necessary and proportionate restrictions on eligibility.

"We already do so in lightweight and adaptive rowing categories, and we are now doing so in the women’s category."

British Rowing was criticised earlier this year for delaying a decision on transgender participation until the end of the season having published a survey last September which involved asking more than 31,000 rowers and associated coaches and officials across the country for their views.

Until its latest announcement British Rowing ruled that "any trans or non-binary person, whose gender identity was not female at birth, who wishes to compete in the women's category in domestic competition must have medical evidence to show that the individual’s serum testosterone concentration has been less than 5 nmol/L continuously for a period of at least the previous 12 months.

"Individuals will be expected to maintain this level for as long as they wish to compete and may be subject to spot checks from time to time.

"Medical evidence to show the individual has undergone surgery for the purpose of transitioning and therefore does not need to undergo hormone treatment."

But as was pointed out, this stance was at odds with the new position reached by the international governing body, World Rowing, earlier this year which stated: "One criterium in case of a gender transition is that the rower's serum testosterone concentration has been less than 2.5 nmol/L continuously for a period of at least the previous 24 months."

British Rowing added: "Our policy has been developed following extensive and ongoing research and consultation with stakeholders, the rowing community, academics, and other relevant organisations, and national governing bodies since 2021 and is based on the scientific evidence available at this time.

"The eligibility requirements of World Rowing, our International Federation, have also been considered in the context of our decisions.

"British Rowing is committed to the annual review of this policy and its procedures within 12 months of its most recent update to ensure that our approach is consistent with latest guidance, science, information, and studies.

"This will include, where possible, further dedicated rowing specific research into this area."

World Athletics, World Aquatics and the International Cycling Union are among global federations that have tightened their participation rules over the last couple of years and excluded transgender competitors from taking part in women’s category events.

Football's world governing body FIFA is also reviewing its transgender eligibility policies.