Debate erupts as Basketball Australia approves transgender player

Andrew Bogut has triggered a social media spotfire following revelations a transgender athlete will play in an elite Australian competition.

A trandsender athlete will reportedly be cleared to compete in an elite Australian basketball league.

The Herald Sun reports Basketball Victoria is set to approve an application for the player to compete in the NBL1 South women’s competition.

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Basketball Australia has not publicly, directly addressed the situation, but it is reported the player has met the eligibility requirements and will play for a Victorian team during the 2023 season.

The decision sparked immediate debate across Australian basketball when it was first revealed on Monday, further inflamed by comments made by former NBA star Andrew Bogut.

News.com.au has contacted Basketball Australia for clarification surrounding the governing body’s policies for transgender participation in elite-level competitions.

However, News Corp reports Basketball Victoria has a framework in place to assess cases like the one reportedly set for approval.

The state association reportedly claims its ‘Guidelines for the Inclusion of Transgender and Gender Diverse People in Basketball in Victoria’ policy balances “fairness, inclusion and safety” while supporting transgender participation in senior competitions.

Bogut was among the high profile commentators to criticise the decision.

“Word is @NBL1 South Women will have a biological Male playing this upcoming season,” Bogut tweeted.

“Are you ok with sacrificing the sanctity of Female Sport in the name of “inclusion”? #GirlDads where are you?

“The hashtag is trendy until action is needed.”

Bogut followed that up by replying to another user who called him out for being “wildly irresponsible”.

Andrew Bogut sparked another transgender athletics debate.

Bogut’s tweet unleashed a flurry of responses with many users furious over his stance while others agreed with what he had to say.

Current NBL player Anthony Drmic responded to Bogut’s tweet, describing the move to allow a transgender athlete into the NBL1 competition as “wild”.

Former NBL player Matt Shanahan said the move would only open a “massive can of worms” if given the tick of approval.

“I’m a girl dad who has a 16-year-old daughter in an NBL 1 South squad who has been asked if she would be comfortable with this,” said Shanahan, who is currently coaching the Victorian Metro Under 18s side,

“Opening a massive can of worms if this is allowed.”

Current NBL1 player Chloe Bibby shut down arguments over the debate, insisting she has nothing but respect for the individual.

“As someone who plays in the NBL1, I don’t care what they identify as or their pronouns, she/her, they/them, he/him because regardless I’m still gone try beat their ass on court,” Bibby tweeted.

“They want to play ball & I have nothing but the upmost respect for this person. Go kill it queen.”

News.com.au has reached out to the basketball club at the centre of the story for comment.

Bibby has no issues with it. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

It’s not the first time Bogut has sparked debate online this month after he took aim at Football Australia over one detail in his son’s soccer registration.

Bogut took to Twitter to air his disappointment in the national sporting body for having gender inclusive options in a drop-down box on his six-year-old rego form.

The list included options for male, female, non-binary or gender fluid players to select, and a fourth for those whose “gender identity not sufficiently represented”.

Bogut shared a picture of the list to his followers, directly calling out Football Australia.

The tweet split the internet, with plenty agreeing with his message and plenty poking fun at the 2015 NBA champion for raging against such a minor detail.

Many noted the option was probably there for the whole club, not for junior players. Many didn’t understand the outrage over such a minor detail, saying Bogut should have just ticked the box that applied to his son and move on.

Football Australia said it was proud of the diversity of its sport, and the registration form reflects that.