"Cricketers Who Have Experienced Male Puberty...": ICC's Big Rule Change On Gender Eligibility
In a major policy decision, the ICC on Tuesday barred cricketers, who have been through any form of male puberty, from competing in international women's game regardless of whether or not they have undergone surgery or gender reassignment treatment. The ICC said it was taking the decision to protect the integrity of international women's game and the safety of players. In a statement, the ICC said, "The ICC Board approved new gender eligibility regulations for the international game following a nine-month consultation process with the sport's stakeholders. "The new policy is based on the following principles (in order of priority), protection of the integrity of the women's game, safety, fairness and inclusion, and this means any Male to Female participants who have been through any form of male puberty will not be eligible to participate in the international women's game regardless of any surgery or gender reassignment treatment they may have undertaken." Gender reassignment and treatment have been a hotly-debated topic in world athletics for years.
