Cricket chiefs BAN transgender players born as men from international women’s cricket to ‘protect the safety’ of female players
- Transgender players born male have been banned from international women’s cricket
- The ICC stated that they made the decision to protect the safety of female players
The ICC has banned transgender players born as men from playing international women’s cricket.
In a statement released on Tuesday morning, the governing body concluded that they had made the decision following a nine-month consultation process to protect the safety of female players.
The statement read: ‘The new policy is based on the following principles (in order of priority): protecting the integrity of the women’s game, safety, fairness and inclusivity, and this means that all male-female participants of any form who have experienced male puberty are ineligible to participate in the international women’s game, regardless of any surgery or gender reassignment treatment they have undergone.
‘The review, which was led by the ICC Medical Advisory Committee chaired by Dr. Peter Harcourt, relates solely to gender suitability for international women’s cricket, while gender suitability at domestic level is a matter for each individual member board, which may be affected by local legislation.
‘The regulations will be revised within two years.’
ICC chief executive Geoff Allardice (pictured) stated that transgender women born male will be banned from participating in international women’s sport to protect the safety of female players
Danielle McGahey (pictured) became the first transgender woman to play international women’s cricket earlier this year
Geoff Allardice, CEO of the ICC, added: ‘The changes to the gender eligibility rules are the result of an extensive consultation process and are evidence-based and in line with the core principles developed during the review.
“Inclusivity is incredibly important to us as a sport, but our priority has been to protect the integrity of the women’s international game and player safety.”
The ICC’s previous player eligibility rules, which were released in 2018 before being amended three years later, stated that trans women wishing to compete in international women’s cricket had to demonstrate that “the concentration of testosterone in her serum has been continuously less than 5 nmol/L1 has been’. period of at least twelve months, and that she is ready, willing and able to continue to maintain it below that level as long as she continues to compete.”
They were also required to provide “a written and signed statement, in a form satisfactory to the designated medical officer, that her gender identity is female.”
Canadian Danielle McGahey became the first transgender cricketer to be included in an international women’s team earlier this year.
McGahey, who was born in Australia before immigrating to Canada in 2020, socially transitioned to female in November 2020 and began medically transitioning in May 2021.
The 29-year-old made her debut in a T20 international against Brazil in September.
However, as per the new ICC regulations, she will no longer be able to participate in international women’s cricket.
Cricket joins the athletics, cycling, swimming and both rugby codes in banning transgender women from competing in elite women’s competitions at international level.
However, the ICC statement confirms that domestic boards will have the final say on players’ eligibility for their own competitions.