BWF Starts Policy Review Regarding Transgender Athletes

JAKARTA - The world's badminton federation, BWF, said on Thursday that it was starting a review process to help make "evidence-based decisions" regarding the policy of transgender athletes in their sport.

"BWF is currently following the UK government's policy framework on transgender as a guide for managing this issue at both national and international level tournaments," the BWF said in a statement.

"However, we are aware of the current recommendations from the IOC and are starting a specific research and assessment process to arrive at relevant results-based decision-making in badminton that is fair for all parties," reads the same statement.

Transgender rights advocates argue that not enough studies have been done to study the impact of gender transitions on physical performance, and argue that elite athletes usually have different physical abilities.

The BWF is the next sports federation to begin reviewing the policy, following last weekend's vote at the world's aquatic federation, FINA, banning "male-to-female" transgender athletes from participating in women's competitions.

The world football federation, FIFA, and the world athletics federation, World Athletics, have also stated that their institutions are carrying out similar policies.

Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has issued a "framework" of reference for the matter, while leaving the final decision on the eligibility for performance of transgender athletes to the respective sports federations.

However, the IOC stipulates that "until proven otherwise, athletes shall not be deemed to have an unfair or disproportionate competitive advantage because of variations in their sex, physical appearance and/or transgender status".

FINA's new rules have been criticized by transgender cyclist Veronica Ivy, who called them "unscientific", while LGBT rights group Athlete Ally labeled them "discriminatory" and "dangerous".

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe announced when announcing his organization's review process that "if there is a trade-off between inclusion and fairness, we will side with justice -- to me that's non-negotiable".

The participation of transgender athletes in women's competitions was banned by the rugby league on Tuesday (21/6), while the world cycling authority UCI tightened their participation rules last week.

Federations of hockey, triathlon, and rowing have also started their review process regarding the participation of transgender athletes.