Community sporting associations need to be conscious of “an ever-changing area” of regulations as they wrestle with how international rules around transgender athlete participation will affect their competitions.
Following world swimming body FINA’s decision to toughen restrictions on transgender athletes, other world sporting organisations have indicated they will follow suit by introducing similar bans.
World Athletics and soccer’s governing body FIFA will change their rules and the International Rugby League Federation has already said transgender athletes will not be able to play for their countries.
These hardline stances have raised questions about the domino effect it could have on community competitions.
Sporting bodies are seeking advice as they develop or refine transgender participation policies which have often catered for inclusion and participation in lower-level events.
“As we’ve seen, it’s an ever-changing area and we just need to be conscious of that,” Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon said after Australian Sports Commission chief and Olympic great Kieren Perkins warned of “human carnage” should sports blindly follow the lead of FINA.
Cricket Australia-affiliated associations, clubs or indoor centres must permit players to participate in community cricket competitions in accordance with their gender identity. The player is asked to demonstrate a commitment that their gender identity is consistent in other aspects of everyday life, which can be done by changing appearance and dress, changing their given name, taking medication or a combination of these steps.
Associations, clubs and indoor centres cannot ask players to undergo medical examinations for gender verification.
Grading and selection practices are in place to address concerns of talent disparity, to protect the health and safety of participants, and to provide fair competitions.
“In 2019 a couple of policies were released by Cricket Australia, one around elite cricket and the other around community cricket,” Germon said. “The community cricket guidelines stipulate our clubs must allow players to take part in community cricket competitions in line with their gender identity.
“That was incorporated in those guidelines that came out in 2019. The elite one is obviously aligned with the International Cricket Council guidelines.”
Tennis Australia has transgender inclusion guidelines which apply in local club and association events, school competitions and junior development series.
Players who identify as women are allowed to play as women; players identifying as men can play as men. Gender diverse, non-binary players and players part way through a gender affirmation can play in the category in which they feel most comfortable. Community tennis clubs are not allowed to disclose the gender identity of a player without their permission.
Golf was thrust into the spotlight when Denmark’s Mianne Bagger became the first openly transitioned woman to play in a professional golf tournament at the Australian Open in 2004. Golf NSW has an inclusive policy which allows transgender competitors to compete in its open championships and major pennant and amateur competitions.
Football NSW, the governing body for community, amateur and semi-professional football, are set to allow participants to compete with the gender to which they identify.
“Football NSW is committed to providing a safe, fair and inclusive sporting opportunity to participants and ensuring that the rights of all participants are respected,” a statement read.
“Football NSW’s current position is to facilitate participation in football on the basis of the gender with which the person identifies.”
Swimming NSW is awaiting guidance from Swimming Australia “on what [FINA’s] decision means for the sport in Australia from a policy perspective and in a very practical sense”.
Community-level rugby league competitions have allowed transgender participation with NRL officials working on a policy after the International Rugby League banned transgender athletes from competing in the upcoming women’s World Cup.
“The NRL is undertaking ongoing engagement with experts and stakeholders regarding transgender participation. The policy will be determined by the commission after all advice is carefully considered,” a Queensland Rugby League spokesperson said.
Rugby Australia has a 12-step procedure for transgender players wishing to play in community level competitions, with a qualified assessing coach assigned by the club to assess the physical development, ability and experience of the player with reference to the competition.
A competition manager will review the assessment and determine whether to accept or reject the application for dispensation. They can make a recommendation to the player as to the appropriate age-grade or competition for that player based on the initial assessment or any subsequent independent assessment. The competition manager can also refer the player seeking dispensation to a medical practitioner retained or identified by the union before accepting or rejecting the application.
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