Australia bans transgender player from competing in women's league / News - Basketnews.com

Transgender athlete Lexi Rodgers has been banned from competing in the NBL1 South women's league, a second-tier tournament, one grade below the WNBL. Basketball Australia's three-member panel

Credit: Instagram/lexi.love.rodgers Credit Instagram/lexi.love.rodgers

The biggest story in Australian basketball this year has come to a conclusion.

Transgender athlete Lexi Rodgers was banned from playing for the Kilsyth Cobas in the Women's NBL1 South competition this upcoming season, Basketball Australia (BA) announced.

NBL1 South women's league is a second-tier tournament in Australia, one grade below the WNBL.

The decision was made by a panel, consisting of three people - Dr. Peter Harcourt, BA Board member and three-time Olympian Suzy Batkovic, and associate professor Diana Robinson.

"Firstly, on behalf of Basketball Australia, I'd like to acknowledge and sincerely thank Lexi for her cooperation, understanding, and patience throughout this process – it's a complex space that continues to evolve," Batkovic said in a statement.

As reported by The Herald Sun in March, the panel, among others, evaluated Rodgers' strength and physicality, and reviewed the tests that have been carried out, including a testosterone count, as well as practice footage.

The case was brought to the public when Australian basketball legend Andrew Bogut shared it on Twitter, saying that a transgender player should not compete among women and asking to reveal the identity of the applicant.

Public outrage pushed Rodgers to reveal her identity to the public on a podcast.

Basketball Australia doesn't have clear guidelines regarding transgender athletes. As the panel noted in the official announcement, each eligibility dispute is taken on a case-by-case basis.

Rodgers later released a post on Instagram, thanking for support and pledging to continue playing basketball.

"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," Rodgers writes. "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."

"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.

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. 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."

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