Trans women are banned from playing in the International Women’s Rugby League

Rugby league’s global governing body has banned transgender women from playing in women’s international matches until further notice.

The International Rugby League (IRL) joins a growing list of government bodies that have recently restricted athletes who have transitioned from male to female from competing in women’s divisions, including the International Swimming Federation (FINA) and the International Cycling Union. (ICU).

In a statement, the IRL said it is “continuing work to review and update the rules” and “will look to use the upcoming World Cup to help develop a comprehensive policy on inclusion”.

The ban will be in effect for the Rugby League World Cup, which kicks off in England on 15 October.

“Until more research is completed to allow the IRL to implement a formal transgender inclusion policy, trans players may not play in sanctioned matches of the International Women’s Rugby League,” the statement reads.

“To reach this position, the IRL reviewed transgender participation in international rugby league in January and February 2021 and considered several relevant developments in world sport.”

“The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has concluded that it is the responsibility of each sport and its governing body to determine how an athlete can be at a disproportionate advantage compared to their peers – taking into account the different nature of each sport.”

Transgender woman Caroline Layt, who played in Australia’s elite women’s rugby league after transitioning, told Reuters: “It’s disappointing. We are human beings just like everyone else.”

“It just tells trans kids and trans adults that you’re not worthy. Don’t even bother. Don’t even bother showing up. What is the point?”

The IOC decision in question has prompted several government bodies to implement a new gender participation framework in their sports in recent months.

While the new IRL rules are a blanket ban on athletes who have transitioned from male to female from competing in the women’s divisions, FINA and the UCI have developed detailed policies that restrict participation.

On Sunday (19), FINA approved its new “gender inclusion” policy which says that athletes who have transitioned from male to female will only be eligible to compete in the women’s categories in FINA competitions if they make the transition earlier. 12 years of age or before reaching the second stage of puberty, according to the Tanner scale.

The policy also says that athletes who have previously used testosterone as part of female-to-male gender-affirming hormonal treatment will only be eligible to compete in female competition if testosterone has been used for less than one year in total, if treatment does not take place. during puberty and serum testosterone levels return to pre-treatment levels.

In response to the FINA decision, the IOC issued a statement on Monday (20) to the CNN which said that “sports in the Olympic Games are governed by International Federations (IFs)”.

He continued: “With regard to eligibility criteria for gender-segregated competition, the Framework provides guidance for FIs without being mandatory. The previous Consensus Statement published by the IOC on the topic of eligibility for trans and gender-varied athletes in 2015 was also non-binding for IFs.”

“The IOC considers that sporting bodies are well positioned to define the factors that contribute to performance advantage in the context of their own sport.”

“They are also well positioned to determine the threshold at which an advantage can become disproportionate, to devise relevant criteria and to develop the necessary mechanisms to offset the disproportionate advantage when it is determined to exist.”

Speaking to the BBC, Global Athletics President Lord Coe said the sport could follow the same path that FINA has taken to limit participation.

Meanwhile, the UCI said last week that it increased the transition period to lower testosterone from 12 months to two years and halved the maximum testosterone level.

The Rugby League differs from the Rugby Union in its rules and also has a different governing body.

Last year, World Rugby, the governing body of rugby union, said it did not recommend that transgender women play women’s contact rugby “for safety reasons at the international level of the game.” However, the governing body’s advice was not binding and allowed national federations to implement their own base policy.

In its statement on Tuesday, the IRL said that “in the interest of avoiding unnecessary welfare, legal and reputational risk to International Rugby League competitions and those who compete in them”, more is needed. research before finalizing a more detailed policy.

“The IRL reaffirms its belief that rugby league is a game for everyone and that anyone and everyone can play our sport,” the statement said.

“It is the responsibility of the IRL to balance the individual’s right to participate — a long-standing principle of rugby league and its heart since the day it was established — with the perceived risk to other participants and to ensure that everyone receives a fair hearing.

“The IRL will continue to work to develop a set of criteria, based on the best possible evidence, that fairly balance an individual’s right to gamble with the safety of all participants.”

The IRL says it will look to work with the eight teams competing in the Women’s Rugby League World Cup to obtain data that will help shape a transgender participation policy in 2023.