International Rugby League bans transgender players from women’s competition – Reuters

MELBOURNE, June 21 (Reuters) – Rugby league has banned transgender players from women’s international competition until further notice, following global swimming’s decision to restrict trans athletes’ participation at the elite level.

The International Rugby League (IRL) said in a statement on Tuesday that it needed to further consult before finalising its transgender policy.

“Until further research is completed to enable the IRL to implement a formal transgender inclusion policy, male-to-female (trans women) players are unable to play in sanctioned women’s international rugby league matches,” it said.

“It is the IRL’s responsibility to balance the individual’s right to participate … against perceived risk to other participants, and to ensure all are given a fair hearing.”

The ban, which comes after FINA voted on Sunday to restrict transgender athletes in elite women’s swimming, drew scathing criticism from transgender advocates.

“Blanket bans on women who are trans playing against other women risks violating international human rights principles of non-discrimination, which require such policies to start from a place of inclusion,” Anna Brown, CEO of Equality Australia, said in a statement.

“FINA failed to meet that standard, and the Rugby L