Statement regarding inaccurate article published in the Sunday Independent

Basketball Ireland is an organisation with diversity and inclusivity at its core and is extremely disappointed by a recent inaccurate article published in the Sunday Independent and online. In response to a query from the Sunday Independent whether it was revoking its Transgender and Inclusion Policy, Basketball Ireland clarified the situation via a statement issued on Thursday, stating as follows:

"Basketball Ireland informed Women’s Space Ireland (WSI) group that it is reviewing its current transgender policy, which has been in place since 2019. An updated Transgender and Inclusion policy is expected to be published in summer 2025, no further details can be provided at this time."

This statement was not used in full and Basketball Ireland has contacted the Sunday Independent calling for it to acknowledge the vital omission and the error in its reporting of the story. Basketball Ireland is seeking a retraction of the article in question.

Last Monday Basketball Ireland also corrected a typo in an email to Women’s Space Ireland, providing clarity that the policy was not to be revoked, but that it was under review. This clarification was acknowledged by Women’s Space Ireland on the same day, however the corrected information was not quoted in the published article.

Reviews of any organisational/company policy procedures, no matter the context, is a normal course of business. Basketball Ireland’s stated ethos is that ‘Basketball is everywhere and for everyone’, and it will be consulting all relevant stakeholders as part of its considered review of its Transgender and Inclusion Policy. An updated policy will be published in due course.