Srilanka, Feb. 9 -- US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that prevents transgender women from competing in female categories of sports.

The order provides guidance, regulations and legal interpretations, and it will enlist the Department of Education to investigate high schools thought to be non-compliant.

Republicans say it restores fairness to sports but LGBT advocacy and human rights organisations have described the move as discriminatory.

The order, which goes into effect immediately, largely covers high school, universities and grassroots sports.

A number of sporting governing bodies, including swimming, athletics and golf, have banned transgender women from competing in the female category at elite level if t...