The International Chess Federation (FIDE) announced a ban on transgender women from competing in women's chess competitions until further notice.
The world chess regulatory organization says trans women have no right to compete in women's events.
World Chess Federation Bans Trans Women in Women's Events
As per The Washington Post, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) dished out a polarizing new policy. It effectively prohibits transgender women from participating in women's chess competitions. Apart from the ban, the fresh guidelines strip trans players of their titles.
FIDE says folks who transition from being male to female no longer have the "right" to compete in women's official chess events. The new policy takes effect until "further analysis" concludes. However, The Washington Post notes that such a study could take roughly two years.
On top of the ban, previous title holders are also affected. The new guidelines eliminate the titles of any transgender men who are still in the pre-transition period when they competed in a women's chess tournament. The policy precisely notes that "abolished women title may be transferred into a general title of the same or lower level."
On the other hand, trans women who won a title in a women's event get to keep their titles.
Why Did FIDE Ban Trans Women From Women's Events?
According to The Independent, the world chess federation has yet to provide any justification or mere explanation for the new policy under its handbook.
Despite that, WaPo pointed out that global athletic regulators have previously enforced a similar policy, blocking transgender athletes from joining events under their gender identity. These guidelines typically asserted that trans women possess an unfair advantage over cisgender women.
On the other hand, critics, including transgender rights advocates, argue that such policies are discriminatory and unfair. Some say the ban follows outdated stereotypes about transgender women and their athletic ability.
As per The Daily Beast, a French chess coach, Yosha Iglesias, a trans woman who holds a FIDE Master title, slammed the recent policy update.
In a recent post on X, formerly Twitter, the FIDE Master title holder, dubs the new policy "anti-trans." Iglesias also asked what precisely qualifies as an official FIDE chess event, raising her eligibility concerns on the upcoming French Championship and The European Club Cup.
