Gymnastics Australia has changed its guidelines to allow biological males to compete in women’s categories.
They’ll be permitted to use change rooms and showers assigned to female athletes and select the uniforms and competitions that best align with their gender identity. More specific or detailed regulations may apply to higher levels of competition or events.
Where new facilities are built or undergoing upgrades, clubs will be asked to create more options for changing rooms to accommodate gender diverse individuals.
‘We recognise that the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people within sport is a complex and emotive issue, and it is important to note that these guidelines are focused on creating and fostering inclusive environments,’ the new policy states.
Gymnastics Australia chief executive Alexandra Ash said the guidelines renewed the body’s commitment to ensure the sport was “a safe and inclusive environment for everyone.”
The move goes against the recent trend of international sports such as track and field, swimming and cycling to reinforce women’s sport BASED on biology, not ideology.
The Australian Human Rights Commission reported in 2021 that 91% of the 231,000 athletes engaged in gymnastics in Australia are under the age of 12 with 77% of them female. Sky News recently reported 800,000 people are involved in the sport with 93% of them under the age of 12.
In 2021, former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins found the sport was “not effectively safeguarding children.” Gymnastics Australia said it has invested in processes and systems to ensure child safeguarding in the future. The major policy changes come after Gymnastics Australia joined the Commonwealth National Redress Scheme.
Opponents of the new guidelines voice concern that the vast majority of participants in the sport are vulnerable children. They point to one of the world’s worst sporting scandals when more than 360 young American gymnasts were assaulted “by gym owners, coaches, and staff working for gymnastics programs across the country” over two decades from the 1990s. National team doctor Larry Nassar was jailed after being named in hundreds of lawsuits.
