The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has made an announcement regarding transgender women’s participation in women’s events. FIDE has stated that transgender women, who were assigned male at birth and have transitioned to female, will no longer be allowed to compete in women’s events until further notice. This decision comes as FIDE receives an increasing number of recognition requests from individual members who identify as transgender.
According to the updated FIDE handbook, the organization will only recognize an individual’s gender identity in its directory if it is consistent with the identity they maintain in their non-chess life. Furthermore, the gender identity must be confirmed by national authorities through a legal and formal process of change. It is important to note that the term ‘trans’ applies only to those who have officially transitioned under national legal rules, and not to individuals who identify as intersex, androgynous, polygender, crossdressers, or transvestites.
To have their new gender recognized by FIDE, players must provide proof of their transition and have their claims reviewed by a national rating officer. Once their gender is confirmed and entered into the FIDE database, they will face certain restrictions. Male-to-female transgender individuals will be prohibited from participating in official FIDE events designated for women until further analysis is conducted on the issue. The FIDE council will make a final decision within a two-year period.
However, the guidelines state that there are no restrictions for transgender individuals to play in the open section, regardless of their gender transition. Additionally, transgender men (female-to-male) who have previously earned women’s titles will have those titles transferred to a general title of the same or lower level.
FIDE also reserves the right to inform organizers and other relevant parties about a player’s gender change to prevent possible illegitimate enrollments in tournaments. This is done to uphold the integrity of the game and ensure fair competition.
This decision by FIDE follows similar actions taken by other sports organizations. Earlier this month, British Rowing banned transgender athletes from representing Great Britain or England in women’s international races. In July, the Union Cycliste Internationale, the governing body for cycling, announced that male-born transgender athletes would be excluded from women’s events to ensure equal opportunities.
It is worth noting that these regulations and decisions aim to address the complex issue of gender identity in sports and strive to find a balance between inclusion and fair competition. The recognition and acceptance of transgender athletes in sports continue to be a topic of discussion and evolving policies to ensure fair play and equal opportunities for all participants.
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