Sporting bodies update transgender eligibility policies

Several sporting organizations have updated their eligibility policies regarding transgender participation. The Football Association of Wales and the Royal Yachting Association have amended their rules to base eligibility on biological sex rather than self-identified gender. These changes follow formal warnings from the legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom, which argued that allowing biological males to compete in female categories could violate the Equality Act 2010.

In Australia, Golf Australia has revised its policy to create a tiered approach. At the grassroots and club level, transgender and gender-diverse players may select a men’s or women’s handicap without medical testing, provided the choice remains for four years. However, for elite women’s scratch events, athletes must submit applications six weeks in advance and adhere to strict medical guidelines, including specific testosterone level requirements aligned with international standards.