While this move has faced criticism from some players and enthusiasts, FIDE clarified that the ban's imposition is temporary, as reported by BBC.
Although various sports governing bodies have been developing policies concerning transgender athletes, it's noteworthy that chess doesn't entail comparable levels of physical exertion.
However, FIDE shared with the BBC its intention to thoroughly evaluate the repercussions of these policies and its preference not to rush the process.
"FIDE will be closely observing these changes and examining how they can be applied to the realm of chess. A two-year timeframe seems reasonable for a comprehensive analysis of such developments," they conveyed.
FIDE also noted that transgender players would still be eligible to participate in the open section of their tournaments.
Yosha Iglesias, a professional chess player who is a trans woman holding the FIDE rank of chess master, expressed concern that this policy could lead to "unnecessary harm" for trans players and women, potentially exacerbating issues such as depression and suicide attempts.
Jennifer Shahade, a Woman Grandmaster and two-time US Women’s Champion, criticized FIDE's decision, deeming it "ridiculous and dangerous." She suggested that FIDE failed to consult with transgender players during the formulation of the policy and urged them to reconsider and collaborate with better advisors.
Angela Eagle, a UK Member of Parliament who was a joint winner of the 1976 British Girls' Under-18 chess championship, asserted that there's no inherent physical advantage in chess. She recalled her own experience of encountering gender-based stereotypes and discrimination throughout her chess career, stating that the ban is "ridiculous and offensive to women."
FIDE's policy also stipulated that trans men who had previously won women's titles before transitioning would have their titles revoked.
It's important to note that chess is categorized as a sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
In recent times, the governing body for world cycling also ruled against transgender women participating in female events. On a different note, World Aquatics announced a new open category for transgender athletes at the upcoming Swimming World Cup event in Berlin after voting last year to disallow transgender athletes from competing in women's elite races.
