World chess bans transgender women from competing in the women’s category, citing fairness

The federation that governs international chess competitions updated its gender policy to ban transgender women from playing in women’s events.

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) published its new handbook on Monday with the changes, after the governing council approved the new policy earlier this month.

“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,” the handbook says.

“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 [sic] decision is made,” the handbook continues.

The organization plans to revisit the policy in two years.

Players who transition genders must submit documents to the FIDE counsel, which will than make a decision on the player’s status within two years, during which time the player may compete in the open category.

In addition, if a woman player were to compete as a man, any titles she holds in the women’s category will be abolished. If the player reverts back to a woman, her previous titles can be reinstated. If a male competes as a woman, all previous titles in the male category remain intact.

Despite some criticism of the decision to restrict transgender competitors, evidence suggests that biological males have a competitive advantage over their female counterparts.

According to FIDE’s official ratings, women were outperformed by men in every category, standard, rapid and blitz. The top ranked woman player wouldn’t even make the top 100 in the men’s category.

International chess master Eva Repkova, who heads FIDE’s Commission for Women’s Chess, said many women lack the qualities needed to become one of the top players, and it’s not because they lack the intellect.

“Chess games can go on for many hours,” Repkova said. “It might seem like physical strength doesn’t play a role sitting at the chess board but it does. At the beginning, opponents are pretty equal. At the end, the tiredness accumulates and (it comes down to) the amount of energy you naturally have—of which, of course, men have more.”

A spokesperson for FIDE said the policy change came in response to related legal and policy developments on the issue in governments and other sporting organizations.

“The transgender legislation is rapidly developing in many countries and many sport bodies are adopting their own policies,” the spokesperson said, according to the Daily Mail. “FIDE will be monitoring these developments and see how we can apply them to the world of chess.”

Last month, the International Cycling Union announced transgender female athletes who transitioned after undergoing male puberty would no longer be able to race in the women’s events.

In June, World Aquatics banned transgender females from swimming in the women’s categories. 

FIDE says it could change the policy in the future. 

“Two years is a scope of sight that seemed reasonable for the thorough analyses of such developments,” the FIDE spokesperson said. “It is to set a certain deadline for a new reiteration of these policies, without rushing it.”