New Regulations by Cricket's Governing Body Impact Eligibility of Transgender Women in International Cricket
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced new regulations for international women's cricket, stating that individuals who have undergone male puberty will be excluded from competition
The International Cricket Council (ICC) declared on Tuesday that individuals who have undergone male puberty will be ineligible to participate in international women's cricket. The ICC did not provide a specific definition of "male puberty," and CNN has requested further information from the organization.
The ICC announced new "gender eligibility regulations" for international cricket after a "9-month consultation process with sports stakeholders." The review was conducted by the ICC Medical Advisory Committee.
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"The new policy prioritizes the protection of the integrity of the women's game, safety, fairness, and inclusion. As a result, any Male to Female participants who have undergone male puberty will not be eligible to participate in the international women's game, regardless of any surgery or gender reassignment treatment they may have undergone," the ICC announced.
In recent years, some forms of gender affirming care for trans youth, such as puberty blockers, have become more common. However, many adult trans women today did not have access to care that would delay or prevent the hormonal changes associated with puberty in their youth, and these women would therefore be excluded from competition under the new guidelines.
ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice emphasized that safeguarding the integrity of international women's cricket is the top priority for the ICC. He further stated that the revisions to the gender eligibility rules were the outcome of thorough consultation and rooted in scientific evidence, in line with the fundamental principles established during the review process.
"Inclusivity is a top priority for the sport, but our main concern is safeguarding the integrity of the international women's game and the safety of all players," Allardice added.
Mainstream science does not back the assertion that trans women have a competitive advantage over cisgender women in athletics.
The 2017 report in the journal Sports Medicine that analyzed multiple studies concluded that there is "no conclusive evidence" supporting the idea that trans individuals have a competitive edge over their cisgender counterparts in sports. Critics argue that imposing bans only contributes to the discrimination faced by trans people. The debate regarding whether hormones such as testosterone can be used as reliable indicators of athletic advantage is still a topic of discussion within the scientific community.
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The ICC statement has confirmed that these changes will only affect international women's cricket, and that eligibility in domestic cricket will be determined by each member association.
Nonprofit LGBTQ athletic advocacy group Athlete Ally expressed deep concern over the International Cricket Council's policy to ban transgender women from participating in international competitions. They believe the decision is politically motivated and not based on science or genuine concern for athlete health and safety.
"Fairness-promoting policies have been effectively implemented at the highest levels for decades without any problems. The group also stated that policies such as the ICC's ban on transgender women are driven by misinformation and fear."
Prominent advocates for women's sports, such as The Women's Sports Foundation, assert that upholding the integrity of women's sports involves tackling issues of unequal pay, widespread sexual abuse, and inadequate resources for women athletes. They argue that singling out transgender athletes does not effectively address these concerns. "The underlying sexism in these policies negatively impacts all women, and we stand in solidarity with the rights of all women to participate in women's sports."
