Chess governing body bans transgender women from women’s events

All transgender women are banned from competing in women’s events pending further changes, the International Chess Federation has ruled.

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has ruled transgender women are barred from competing in the organisation’s official events for females until an assessment of gender change is made by officials.

FIDE said the organisation and its member federations “more often” received recognition requests from players who identify as transgender.

The participation of transgender women would depend on an analysis of individual cases that might take up to two years, Fox News reports.

The chess governing body will ban trans women from competing in women’s events pending further changes. Picture: iStock

“Change of gender is a change that has a significant impact on a player’s status and future eligibility to tournaments, therefore it can only be made if there is a relevant proof of the change provided,” FIDE said.

“In the event that the gender was changed from a male to a female the player has no right to participate in official FIDE events for women until further FIDE’s decision is made.

“Such decision should be based on further analysis and shall be taken by the FIDE Council at the earliest possible time, but not longer than within (a) two years period. There are no restrictions to play in the open section for a person who has changed the gender.”

Trans woman Yosha Iglesias, seen playing against Aman Hambleton, has described the decision as 'heartbreaking'.

World No. 1 Grand Master Magnus Carlsen is currently competing at the FIDE World Cup event in Azerbaijan. Picture: Foto Olimpik/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The federation said the holders of women’s titles who change their gender to male would see those titles “abolished”.

The organisation floated the possibility of a reinstatement “if the person changes the gender back to woman”.

“If a player has changed the gender from a man into a woman, all the previous titles remain eligible,” the federation said.

The decision came as the federation hosts a World Cup event in Azerbaijan where top players, including World No. 1 Grand Master Magnus Carlsen are attending.

The federation has open competitions that allow all players to take part, as well as specialised categories, including for women, young players and computers.

This article originally appeared on Fox News and was reproduced with permission