Angry Aussie cricket star lashes out as she reveals her career is OVER after sport’s bosses banned trans players born as men from women’s competitions
- Aussie Danielle McGahey was furious at the decision
- Trans players born as men banned from international women’s cricket
- The ICC decision was taken to protect ‘the safety’ of female players
Australian cricketer Danielle McGahey has confirmed her career is over after the International Cricket Council (ICC) banned transgender players born male from playing women’s matches at international level.
McGahey said on Instagram: “Following the ICC decision, it is with a heavy heart that I have to say that my international cricket career is over. As quickly as it started, it must now end.
“While I have my opinions on the ICC decision, they are not relevant. What matters is the message being sent to millions of trans women today, according to a report [sic] that we don’t belong.
“I promise that I will not stop fighting for equality for us in our sport, we deserve the right to play cricket at the highest level, we are not a threat to the integrity or safety of the sport.
“Never stop fighting!”
Australian cricketer Danielle McGahey has confirmed her career is over after the International Cricket Council (ICC) banned transgender players born male from playing in women’s matches at international level
In September, McGahey became the first transgender cricketer to compete in an official international match when she represented Canada in a T20 match against Brazil
McGahey previously played men’s club cricket in Melbourne before moving to Canada in 2020, where she quickly caught the attention of Cricket Canada selectors for her prowess in the crease.
She began medically transitioning in May 2021 – and in September this year, McGahey became the first transgender cricketer to compete in an official international match when she represented Canada in a T20 match against Brazil.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the governing body concluded that they had made the decision to ‘protect the safety of female players’ after a nine-month consultation process.
The ICC 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 are those who are the only have undergone any form of male puberty are ineligible to participate in the international women’s game, regardless of any surgery or gender reassignment treatment they may 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 CEO Geoff Allardice (pictured) stated that the measure was taken to protect the safety of female players
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, 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 is continuously less than 5 nmol/ L1 was’. for a period of at least twelve months, and that it is ready, willing and able to continue to maintain it below that level for as long as it 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.”
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.
“We continue to review our transgender policy, taking into account inclusivity, safety and fairness, and will consider these new ICC rules as part of this work,” the England and Wales Cricket Board said, according to Sky News.