The Australian Football League (AFL) has ruled that a transgender footballer, Freya Golding, may continue to play in the Adelaide Footy League's women's competition. The decision was made by the AFL's Gender Diversity Policy Committee following formal complaints from three clubs that expressed concerns about player safety.
In an email, the committee stated it was "not satisfied that the Player's participation in the Competition gives rise to unacceptable safety risks." Therefore, Golding is permitted to continue participating in the league.
Golding welcomed the decision and disputed claims of a significant physical advantage over her opponents. "I'm not the biggest and tallest player getting around, and by no means am I a dominant player," Golding said. "I just want to play the sport I love with a great group of people."
However, Adelaide Footy League chief executive John Kernahan maintained the league's position on potential safety risks. "We to this day maintain that it is a safety risk," Kernahan stated, noting Golding's size at "6'2' or 6'3', 92kg." He acknowledged that while some cisgender women might match this size, it is uncommon.
Despite these reservations, the league has accepted the AFL committee's ruling, allowing Golding to remain eligible to play. The AFL noted that the decision could be revisited if new information arises.
The ruling was made under the AFL's Community Football Gender Diversity Policy, which differs from policies at elite and semi-professional levels. This community policy generally allows players to compete in categories aligning with their gender identity without requiring specific testosterone levels, though safety exceptions can be assessed individually.
At elite levels, including the AFLW and state leagues, transgender women must maintain testosterone levels below five nanomoles per liter for at least two years to compete. Previously, in 2017, the AFL blocked transgender footballer Hannah Mouncey from the AFLW draft due to concerns about an "unreasonable physical advantage."