lodging formal duty of care complaints<\/a>, after the AFL\u2019s Gender Diversity Policy Committee ruled it was not satisfied that Golding\u2019s participation in the AdFL gave rise to unacceptable safety risks.<\/p>\nBritish actor and comedian John Cleese, known for his roles in television show Faulty Towers and with the Monty Python comedy group, vented his displeasure at the decision, describing the situation as \u201cpure madness\u201d on social media. <\/p>\n
Retired Czech-American tennis player Martina Navratilova also voiced her disapproval, writing \u201cAustralia is really messed up when it comes to women\u2019s rights\u201d. <\/p>\n
A round five incident involving Golding delivering an off-ball hit to an opponent, among other incidents throughout the year, motivated three separate clubs to lodge the complaints out of concern for player safety.<\/p>\n
It is understood Golding previously competed in the senior men\u2019s competition but does not identify as male and is eligible to compete under the AFL\u2019s Gender Diversity Policy, which says self-ID is the only requirement at the community level.<\/p>\n
This differs to the AFL\u2019s policy for its own women\u2019s competition, which requires a transgender player to have strictly low testosterone levels to be eligible. <\/p>\n
Adelaide Footy League (AdFL) chief John Kernahan said he was disappointed with the outcome.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur disappointment does not arise because the AFL reached a different conclusion than our own, it arises because we are no longer convinced the AFL was ever capable of reaching another one,\u201d Kernahan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe AFL drafted the policy, the AFL promoted the policy, the AFL appointed the committee to oversee the policy, the AFL assessed the evidence of the policy and ultimately the AFL delivered the verdict on the policy \u2026 in other words, the AFL marked its own homework.\u201d<\/p>\n
The AFL Gender Diversity Policy Committee has the final say regarding a player\u2019s eligibility within the policy to compete in local competitions.<\/p>\n
Kernahan said the AdFL supported the concerns of its clubs on the matter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether the AFL agrees with our assessment is ultimately a matter for the AFL \u2026 how we convey the concerns of our clubs is a matter for us and on that score, we remain entirely comfortable and take some comfort our clubs have recognised that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stephanie Bastiaan, head of advocacy at Women\u2019s Forum Australia, an independent organisation that campaigns on issues affecting women and girls, raised concerns about the issue on X, drawing international attention.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur position is that male born-players shouldn\u2019t be in women\u2019s sports full stop,\u201d <\/p>\n
Bastiaan, 35, said.<\/p>\n
Cleese\u2019s and Navratilova\u2019s comments on social media came in response to Bastiaan\u2019s post.<\/p>\n
An AFL spokesperson told this masthead the league was \u201ccommitted to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all members of the football community.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe AFL considers all referrals to the AFL Community Gender Diversity Policy Committee in accordance with the AFL Gender Diversity Policy for Community Football and if a player does not pose an unacceptable safety risk they are generally permitted to continue participating in the competition,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n
Golding will not play again this year after Westminster OS was knocked out of finals by Mitcham over the weekend.<\/p>\n
The Dragons utility kicked one goal on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not the biggest and tallest player going around and by no means am I a dominant player. I\u2019ve had some good moments but it\u2019s rare I get in the best players,\u201d Golding told 9NEWS.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want to play the sport I love with a great group of people.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is understood the AFL has conceded a new risk assessment could be undertaken if new information comes to light which could impact the determination.<\/p>\n
Westminster Old Scholars Football Club has been contacted by this masthead.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A number of international celebrities have spoken out in response to an AFL decision to let a 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