Transgender women banned from playing international women’s cricket by Latest

Transgender women are barred from participating in women’s international matches under new International Cricket Council regulations.

In September, Canadian Danielle McGahey became the first transgender cricketer to play an international match.

The new regulations will be revised within two years, the CCI said.

Following a nine-month consultation process, the governing body said its new policy, which comes into force immediately, was based on “protecting the integrity of women’s football, security, equity and inclusion.

“The changes to the gender eligibility rules are the result of an extensive consultation process and are grounded in science and aligned with the core principles developed during the review,” said the CEO of Latest, Geoff Allardice.

“Inclusiveness is extremely important to us as a sport, but our priority was to protect the integrity of international women’s football and the safety of the players.”

Gender eligibility in domestic cricket will remain a matter of individual skill.

Currently, under the guidance of the England and Wales Cricket Board, all trans women wishing to participate in elite level women’s competitions must apply for written permission. The evidence is then reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Other sports

In June 2022, the world governing body for swimming, Fina voted to stop transgender athletes to compete in elite women’s races if they had gone through any stage of the male puberty process.

Former British swimmer Sharron Davies, who has spoken out against transgender participation in elite women’s swimming, told BBC Sport she was “really proud of Fina”.

However, the Olympic diving champion Tom Daley said he was “furious” to the decision.

The same month, cycling’s governing body, the UCI tightened its rules on transgender eligibility doubling the period of time before a rider transitioning from male to female can compete.

In July 2022, the Rugby Football League and the Rugby Football Union transgender women banned to participate in forms of games reserved for women.