Culture

Cricket Australia Just Took A Leap Forward For Transgender Athletes

"Discrimination of any sort has no place in the game."

by Tom Clift  9 August 2019
Cricket Australia announces inclusion policy for transgender players

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Cricket Australia has launched a new inclusion policy that it says will ensure transgender and gender diverse players can participate in the sport at the highest level.

Cricket’s governing body announced the policy on Tuesday, which is targeted at athletes hoping to compete at both the elite and community level. Players seeking to compete in the elite women’s category must demonstrate a testosterone level of less than 10 nanomoles per litre for at least 12 months prior to their nomination — the same standard applied by the International Olympic Committee.

“Discrimination of any sort has no place in the game,” said Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts in announcing the policy. “Our dedication to a fair and inclusive sport across international and domestic competitions sees the policy strike a balance between the opportunity to participate and ensuring fair competition.”

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“From a community cricket level, the guidelines provide robust guidance for clubs and associations to encourage the participation of transgender and gender diverse players and support frameworks for people who are subject to any form of harassment or discrimination on the basis of their sex or gender identity,” he added.

Speaking to Cricket Australia’s website, transgender player Erica James (pictured above) said the policy was a huge positive step.

“Because of these guidelines, trans and gender diverse people can play a sport that we love without feeling like we’re an imposter,” she said.

The policy also has the backing of former Australian women’s captain and LGBTIQ rights advocate Alex Blackwell.

“I’m so proud of the work that Cricket Australia has done to get the Trans and Gender Diverse Inclusion Policy in place,” she said. “It’s taken six long months to get it done and we thought it was really, really important that trans and gender diverse people participate in the creation of that policy, so I’m very proud to say that that has happened.”