Tennis Australia “We’re trying to influence the decision “ & trans inclusion

[Helleofabore]

There have been a couple of articles about this. Starting from Tennis Australia CEO announcing that he was fighting for trans inclusion at elite level in tennis. Now there are a few things arising from these articles.

Firstly, I have yet to find him state explicitly that this means allowing males to play in female category. It may be that Tiley is virtue signaling here. Because, of course, inclusion could be seen as having an ‘open’ category instead of the male category. OR he is deceptive and not being explicit because he wants to avoid the discussions.

Either way, what was also released was that the world tennis federation is obviously quite late to issue a policy. They are, which is good to hear, looking at all male benefits not just testosterone . Because skeletal and muscular differences are significant in Tennis.

Also, there was this about the Australian Institute of Sport :

“However, in the coming weeks, the Australian Institute of Sport will release a new framework for the nation’s sporting codes to use when transgender athletes seek to join elite competitions. These guidelines will be non-binding.”

The institute is one attended by athletes to receive access to specialist training for their sport. Not just coaching but a whole raft of resources. It will be hugely interesting to see what they have to say as they are a world class sport training facility and incredibly important to Australia’s general world representation in sport. However, considering Australia’s anti-discrimination act limitations, I am not clear at all what Australia’s sporting bodies can do to exclude males from
participating in female events.

I will be interested to see what rolls out after Tiley’s announcement and see if I can find further clarification.

Here are the articles. Use the Sydney Morning Herald link in archive dot is or else the quick switch to airplane mode works. Usually SMH has a certain number free per month, or used to, but considering the world will be clicking through to this, it may be trying to grab subscribers.

https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/sport/tennis-australia-ceo-craig-tiley-in-contact-with-wta-and-itf-about-creating-inclusive-rules-for-transgender-athletes/news-story/571e05368527a8728f1829b8766b9661

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/we-re-trying-to-influence-the-decision-tennis-australia-boss-pushing-to-avoid-transgender-bans-20230530-p5dcdf.html

Sorry for the random embedded link, everyone . That came in the copy and paste and I couldn’t remove it on my phone.

Anyway, Wimbledon time so the World Tennis Association will surely love us holding banners reminding them to put women and girls first. Some of those beautiful painted or appliqué ones. Or just a heart felt cardboard one.

Of course, not disrupting or distracting the players or play.

Remarkable use of language. So different from here. No journo would get away with "transgenders" here.

I can't help but be struck by the difference, casually insulting language and a ridiculous need to look woke enough.

One thing I am sure of is that, like rowing, the huge amount of extant data on limb length alone will scupper most of the need to include males in the female game.

Male musculature along longer limbs is very different to female and no amount of training will change that. Something that has been known for decades with many attempts at different training regimes. All of which showed the same thing. Extraordinary women, like the Williams sisters, cannot hope to gain the same useable muscle mass as men.

If any tennis association says different they will have a whole host of sports scientists, strength and conditioning coaches etc laughing out loud at them.

I agree. ‘transgenders’ is horrible. I notice the media in the USA use it quite freely. Completely dehumanizing.

From the article:

"The WTA’s policy, also updated in 2018, is similar, but allows a higher testosterone threshold, requiring trans athletes in women’s competitions to have maintained their testosterone levels below 10 nmol/L for at least a year."

So they do have a policy and it's only a matter of time before a transwoman arrives on the professional tour. Maybe Tierney is starting the conversation in order to get this looked at and revoked - wishful thinking I know.

And yes. Of course WTA would have to have rocks for brains. But we never know.

I think we have a lot to thank World Rugby and now World Athletics for. It gives WTA a way out.

And not forgetting FINA.