Australian Fencing Affirms Commitment to Inclusion

Conversations about gender and participation have recently been occurring internationally.

While the Australian Fencing Federation (AFF) works on a formal Gender Policy—a top priority for our new Sustainability, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee—we want to reassure our community that domestic competition processes remain unchanged.

The AFF has a passport verification process for National competitions as a practical way to support gendered event entry. If an athlete is unable to provide a passport or identification verifying their gender, we also accept a doctor’s letter confirming that their testosterone levels fall within the typical range for women.

We are committed to establishing a clear policy and associated process to ensure that all our fencers know they are safe, respected, and valued members of our fencing community. In the Australian Fencing community, our values remain clear: we are ONE TEAM — inclusive, supportive, and welcoming of difference.