The world’s top chess federation has ruled that transgender women cannot compete in its official events for women until its officials make an assessment of gender change.
The decision by the Switzerland-based federation FIDE, published on Monday, has drawn criticism from advocacy groups and supporters of transgender rights.
“If a player has changed the gender from a man into a woman, all the previous titles remain eligible,” the federation said.
It said any transgender player was allowed to participate in the “open” section of its chess tournaments.
“Two years is a scope of sight that seemed reasonable for the thorough analyses of such developments,” the federation said.
Many sports involving intense physical activity — which chess does not — have been grappling with how to formulate policies toward transgender athletes in recent years.
Last month, the cycling federation ruled that female transgender athletes who transitioned after male puberty will no longer be able to compete in women’s races. »
