{"id":286894,"date":"2023-04-18T01:29:31","date_gmt":"2023-04-18T01:29:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=286894"},"modified":"2023-04-18T01:58:00","modified_gmt":"2023-04-18T01:58:00","slug":"trans-basketballer-barred-from-womens-league","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=286894","title":{"rendered":"Trans basketballer barred from women's league"},"content":{"rendered":"

Basketball<\/a> Australia (BA) has rejected transgender athlete Lexi Rodgers' application to join the NBL1 South competition, a women's semi-professional basketball league based in south-east Australia.<\/p>\n

In a statement on Tuesday, BA said a three-person panel convened by the governing body had determined that Rodgers is "ineligible to play" for the Kilsyth Cobras this season.<\/p>\n

In March, \ufeffBasketball Victoria confirmed it was working through Rodgers' application and eligibility requirements ahead of the 2023 season.<\/p>\n

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\"Lexi<\/p>\n

"BA assesses eligibility of prospective elite level transgender athletes on a 'case-by-case' basis, accounting for and balancing a range of factors, and has implemented this process on behalf of Basketball Victoria in this matter," the statement read.<\/p>\n

"As the governing body, we acknowledge we're still on a path of education and understanding. To aid us in developing our framework, Lexi will provide feedback and advice from her experiences.<\/p>\n

"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."<\/p>\n

The panel included BA's chief medical officer Dr Peter Harcourt, director Suzy Batkovic and associate professor Diana Robinson – a sports and exercise physician from Notre Dame University.<\/p>\n

"On behalf of Basketball Australia I'd like to acknowledge and sincerely thank Lexi for her cooperation, understanding and patience throughout this process \u2013 it's a complex space that continues to evolve," Batkovic said in a statement.<\/p>\n

"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.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CqPlOpev9Ui\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp<\/a><\/p>\n

"As we continue to develop our own framework for sub-elite and elite competitions, we understand the need to have a clear process and continual education within all layers of the sport so we can best support players, coaches, clubs, associations and the wider basketball community.<\/p>\n

"I also want to make it clear because it's important, that while this particular application was not approved based on criteria for elite competition, Basketball Australia encourages and promotes inclusivity at the community level."<\/p>\n

In response, Rodgers expressed her disappointment with the ruling and the message it projects.<\/p>\n

"Basketball is one of the great loves of my life. Like so many people who play every week across the country, the basketball court is where I feel safe, where I feel free, and where I feel I belong. As an athlete, this passion and love for the game motivates me to play to the best of my abilities against the toughest competitors at the highest levels," she wrote in an Instagram post on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

"I want to thank everyone who has supported me as I have sought to participate in the NBL1 this season. The backing of the players, coaches, my club and grassroots members has been overwhelming. I am so grateful for their desire to have me as part of their community.<\/p>\n

"I have been humbled by the number of people who have publicly spoken in favour of including me as a player in the NBL1. Such support fills me with pride, but also sends an honest message of equality to those who are also seeking belonging within sport.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CrKBp_-vrUW\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp<\/a><\/p>\n

"I sought a different outcome from Basketball Australia. I participated fully and in good faith with the process and eligibility criteria. Consistent with the views expressed by so many, I firmly believe I have a place as an athlete in women's basketball."<\/p>\n

Rodgers stated she would continue to advocate for transgender athletes and gender-diverse inclusion in sports.<\/p>\n

"I hope Basketball Australia understands that this is not the end of my journey as an athlete and that it must not miss future opportunities to demonstrate its values. I am sad about the potential message this decision sends to trans and gender-diverse people everywhere. I hope that one day basketball's governing body can replicate the inclusion and acceptance I have found on the court with my teammates," she wrote.<\/p>\n

"I hope to one-day be playing elite women's basketball in the future and will continue to work on making the sport I love a place for all.<\/p>\n

"Out of respect for the formal process I have undertaken with Basketball Victoria and Basketball Australia, I will not be doing any interviews or making any further comments on this matter at this time."<\/p>\n

For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here<\/strong><\/em><\/a>!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Basketball Australia (BA) has rejected transgender athlete Lexi Rodgers' application to join the NBL1 South competition, a women's semi-professional basketball league based in south-east Australia. […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":286896,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/286894"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=286894"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/286894\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":286897,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/286894\/revisions\/286897"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/286896"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=286894"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=286894"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=286894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}