Basketball Australia rules transgender athlete Lexi Rodgers ineligible to play

Basketball Australia has told transgender athlete Lexi Rodgers she is ineligible to play elite level basketball this season.

Rodgers had been hoping to play for the Kilsyth Cobras in the the NBL1 South women’s semi-professional basketball league that sits below the professional NBL and WNBL leagues, and is made up of North, South, East, West and Central conferences.

To assess Rodgers’ case BA convened an expert panel led by Dr Peter Harcourt (BA chief medical officer, Commonwealth Games medical advisor), Suzy Batkovic OLY (BA board member, three-time Olympian) and associate professor, Diana Robinson.BA said in a statement they assess eligibility of prospective elite level transgender athletes “on a ‘case-by-case’ basis, accounting for and balancing a range of factors,” without specifying those factors.

“We’re still on a path of education and understanding,” the governing body acknowledged. “The balance of inclusivity, fairness and the competitive nature of sport will always be a complex area to navigate, and we thank those involved who have maintained integrity and respect throughout the process.”Basketball Australia director Suzy Batkovic, said: “I’d like to acknowledge and sincerely thank Lexi for her cooperation, understanding and patience throughout this process – it’s a complex space that continues to evolve.“While Lexi is understandably disappointed with the outcome, I know she’ll continue to support her NBL1 South team throughout the season and be an active member of the basketball community.In informing Rodgers and the Kilsyth Cobras of the decision, Batkovic added: “I also want to make it clear, because it’s important, that while this particular application was not approved based on criteria for elite