CA Policy for Transgender People Competing in Domestic Competitions

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Definition of Transgender

For the purposes of this policy document, the term transgender describes a person who was assigned a gender at birth but identifies and lives as the opposite gender. This will include people who are in the process of transitioning from one gender to the other. It also includes other terms by which people may describe themselves such as, but not limited to, trans, transsexual, non-binary, gender variant, MTF and FTM.

Definition of Single-Sex and Mixed-Sex Events

A single-sex event is one restricted to male or female contestants only. A mixed-sex event is one where a doubles pairing has to comprise one male and one female, or a team event that requires male and female participants.

In non-contact sports, such as croquet, the determination of policy for inclusion of transgender people in competition is about possible unfair advantage when competing in single-sex and/or mixed-sex competitions. The majority of domestic croquet tournaments, competitions and leagues are not segregated on gender and so this policy will only be applicable to the few domestic tournaments that are single-sex or mixed-sex events. For International events, the World Croquet Federation (WCF) will have its own policy so competitors in those elite-level events should refer to its policy.

A fundamental aspect of our sport is the assumed integrity of croquet players. It is therefore not the intention of the Croquet Association (CA) to expect anything other than self-determination when ascribing gender. If a transgender person wishes to enter a single-sex or mixed-sex domestic competition then they should refer to the procedures below.

In the same way that a person can change the country they represent but cannot change back again for at least three years, a designation of change of gender cannot be reversed for at least three years.

Whenever possible, alterations to a player's gender in the CA database should take place outside the normal playing season and prior to entering any competitions in the forthcoming season. A player will be able to alter his/her entry in the CA database, which should automatically update all the other database records.

All documentation revealing information about a person's past or present gender reassignment status will be managed in accordance with the CA's policies with regard to the management of sensitive and confidential information and in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 and, where relevant, the Gender Recognition Act 2004.

Anyone involved should understand the confidentiality obligations that are associated with handling such a matter.

Procedures to Implement the CA's Policy with Regard to Transgender People Competing in Single-Sex or Mixed-Sex Domestic Competition

All enquiries should be passed to the CA's nominated person. The CA's nominated person will be the Chairman of the Executive Board or someone appointed by him/her who has sufficient seniority and knowledge of the issue to manage it appropriately.
The CA's nominated person will undertake all communication with the individual concerned, only sharing information with members e.g. clubs and the CA office on a 'needs-led' basis allowing them to manage player registration.
The CA's nominated person will decide if a transgender woman is likely to have any significant physical advantage over birth-sex women and therefore if she can enter a female-only event or play as the female partner in a mixed-sex event.
If the decision made is disputed, by the transgender person in question or by any other member of the CA, then a complaint should be formally lodged with the CA's nominated person. In order to determine compliance with this policy a vice-president of the CA and a medical representative appointed by the CA will consider the evidence on a case-by-case basis.
Any decision made in relation to an individual can be appealed, in which case it will be considered under the procedure for the CA's complaints procedure. An appeal must be lodged at least 4 weeks in advance of a competition in which the transgender person is entered. The appeal will be adjudicated upon before the start of the event.
A formally lodged complaint or an appeal, by a member of the CA, that is considered to have been lodged mischievously or in breach of the CA's policies of Equality, Inclusivity and Diversity could give rise to a misconduct complaint which will be dealt with in accordance with the CA Complaints Procedure.

Affirmed gender	Domestic croquet competition	Further information	Process to determine eligibility in the case of an appeal
Any transgender male (female-to-male transgender person)	May compete in his affirmed gender in any male or mixed-sex domestic competition.	There is a consensus that transgender men and boys, even after a considerable period of time on testosterone therapy, do not usually have an unfair physical advantage over other men or boys, and therefore should be allowed to compete in male and/or mixed-sex domestic competitions as male.	Verification of identity should be no more than is required of any other player.
Transgender woman - aged 16 or over (male-to-female transgender person)	May compete in her affirmed gender in female or mixed-sex domestic competitions by satisfying the CA's nominated person that she has no physical advantage over other birth sex women.	Policy options for transgender women focus on the physical advantage, real or perceived, of transgender women over other women (birth sex) as well as the safety of competitors. After the age of 16 transgender women can receive cross-sex hormones, which can alter a person's body to further fit with their gender identity. The effects of these hormones are only partially reversible so they are not offered to people under the age of 16. Once a person reaches the age of 18 they can then begin the process of gender confirmation surgery e.g. gonadectomy which results in no further production of male hormones. Not all transgender women choose, or are able, to undergo gender confirmation surgery. For female or mixed-sex domestic competitions a transgender woman should only need to demonstrate that hormone therapy has minimised any gender-related advantage that she may have previously had. The minimising of any gender-related advantage either through hormone therapy or following gonadectomy should be the only necessary criteria for inclusion.	In the case of an appeal, it must be made clear to the transgender woman or girl that she is not entitled to play in female or mixed-sex domestic competitions in her affirmed gender until such time as she has provided evidence that the criteria set out by the CA have been met to its satisfaction. The transgender woman (and her legal guardian if under 18) should be asked to: Disclose sufficient information from her GP and/or Consultant to the CA (and any other information, records or other material as the CA may require from time to time) to allow it to ascertain that hormone therapy has been administered in a verifiable manner or the date of her gonadectomy and that a medical representative deems that this has minimised any gender-related advantages in competitions. This information will need to demonstrate that the hormone treatment will have reduced her blood-measured testosterone level to that of the affirmed gender for an appropriate length of time and that this is in line with any anti-doping regulations. The CA should also be permitted to refer back to the GP and/or Consultant to clarify or verify any details. This will ensure that the transgender person is managing the information that is shared with the CA and will assist in ensuring the individual's right to privacy. Verification of identity or age should be no more than is required of any other player.
Transgender girl - under 16, (male-to-female transgender person)	Either she may compete in her affirmed gender in any female or mixed-sex domestic competition Or she may compete in her birth gender in any male or mixed-sex competition	Any transgender girl under 16, pre- or post-puberty, may choose whether to compete as a female (affirmed gender) or as a male (birth gender). However, having once chosen to play in her affirmed gender she may not revert to her birth gender for 3 years or until she is 16, whichever is the sooner.	No appeals will be accepted in relation to children under 16 years of age, other than in relation to contravention of the 3-year rule. Verification of identity or age should be no more than is required of any other player.

Affirmed gender

Domestic croquet competition

Further information

Process to determine eligibility in the case of an appeal

Any transgender male (female-to-male transgender person)

May compete in his affirmed gender in any male or mixed-sex domestic competition.

There is a consensus that transgender men and boys, even after a considerable period of time on testosterone therapy, do not usually have an unfair physical advantage over other men or boys, and therefore should be allowed to compete in male and/or mixed-sex domestic competitions as male.

Verification of identity should be no more than is required of any other player.

Transgender woman - aged 16 or over (male-to-female transgender person)

May compete in her affirmed gender in female or mixed-sex domestic competitions by satisfying the CA's nominated person that she has no physical advantage over other birth sex women.

Policy options for transgender women focus on the physical advantage, real or perceived, of transgender women over other women (birth sex) as well as the safety of competitors. After the age of 16 transgender women can receive cross-sex hormones, which can alter a person's body to further fit with their gender identity. The effects of these hormones are only partially reversible so they are not offered to people under the age of 16. Once a person reaches the age of 18 they can then begin the process of gender confirmation surgery e.g. gonadectomy which results in no further production of male hormones. Not all transgender women choose, or are able, to undergo gender confirmation surgery. For female or mixed-sex domestic competitions a transgender woman should only need to demonstrate that hormone therapy has minimised any gender-related advantage that she may have previously had. The minimising of any gender-related advantage either through hormone therapy or following gonadectomy should be the only necessary criteria for inclusion.

In the case of an appeal, it must be made clear to the transgender woman or girl that she is not entitled to play in female or mixed-sex domestic competitions in her affirmed gender until such time as she has provided evidence that the criteria set out by the CA have been met to its satisfaction. The transgender woman (and her legal guardian if under 18) should be asked to:

Disclose sufficient information from her GP and/or Consultant to the CA (and any other information, records or other material as the CA may require from time to time) to allow it to ascertain that hormone therapy has been administered in a verifiable manner or the date of her gonadectomy and that a medical representative deems that this has minimised any gender-related advantages in competitions.
This information will need to demonstrate that the hormone treatment will have reduced her blood-measured testosterone level to that of the affirmed gender for an appropriate length of time and that this is in line with any anti-doping regulations.
The CA should also be permitted to refer back to the GP and/or Consultant to clarify or verify any details. This will ensure that the transgender person is managing the information that is shared with the CA and will assist in ensuring the individual's right to privacy.

Verification of identity or age should be no more than is required of any other player.

Transgender girl - under 16, (male-to-female transgender person)

Either

she may compete in her affirmed gender in any female or mixed-sex domestic competition

she may compete in her birth gender in any male or mixed-sex competition

Any transgender girl under 16, pre- or post-puberty, may choose whether to compete as a female (affirmed gender) or as a male (birth gender). However, having once chosen to play in her affirmed gender she may not revert to her birth gender for 3 years or until she is 16, whichever is the sooner.

No appeals will be accepted in relation to children under 16 years of age, other than in relation to contravention of the 3-year rule.

Verification of identity or age should be no more than is required of any other player.

Adopted by CA Council: 27^th March 2021

Review due by: 26^th March 2024