After the sport’s ruling body was accused by sexism, the International Handball Federation (IHF), will allow female players to wear tank tops and shorts instead of sports bras and bikinis.

The Norwegian women’s beach handball team were fined 1,500 euros (£1,300) in July for being ‘improperly dressed’ after the players wore shorts at the European championship.

The penalty caused a furore with Abid Raja, the country’s sports minister, calling it ‘completely absurd’ and Pink, a US pop singer, offering to pay the team’s fine.

Now, the IHF has dropped the reference in the rule book to bikini tops. The new policy says: “Female athletes must wear shorter tight pants with close fitting.” They can also wear a ‘body fit tank-top.   

Before this, women wore bikini bottoms that were ‘close-fitted and cut at an upward angle toward their top of the legs’ and sports bras.

The Norwegian beach handball team were fined 1,500 euros (£1,300) in July for being 'improperly dressed' after the players wore shorts at the European championship

The Norwegian beach handball team were fined 1,500 euros (£1,300) in July for being ‘improperly dressed’ after the players wore shorts at the European championship

Norwegian beach volleyball star Aardahl Maren Nyland wearing the traditional ensemble at the 2018 Women's Beach Handball World Cup final against Kerlidi Eleni Ioanna of Greece on July 29, 2018 in Kazan, Russia

Norwegian beach volleyball star Aardahl Maren Nyland wearing the traditional ensemble at the 2018 Women’s Beach Handball World Cup final against Kerlidi Eleni Ioanna of Greece on July 29, 2018 in Kazan, Russia

Now the IHF has ditched the reference to bikini bottoms in the rule book, with the new policy saying: 'Female athletes must wear short tight pants with a close fit' while they can also wear 'body fit tank tops'

The IHF has removed the reference to bikini tops in its rule book. It now states: “Female athletes must dress in short tight pants with close fitting.” They can also wear ‘body-fit tank tops.

Athletes can wear shorts that are not too baggy for men, but they must be at least 10 cm above the kneecap. 

The IHF has made the change after ministers from Sweden and Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway asked it to review its uniform rules “in accordance with gender equality”.  

Talitha Stone, a Norway-based Australian activist, spoke out today on behalf of the players. She said: ‘I hope that this is the beginning to the end of sexism, objectification of women, and girls in sport, and that in the future all women and girls can participate in sport without fear or wardrobe malfunctions, and sexual harassment. 

Female athletes have previously criticized double standards. Women are expected wear revealing clothing in sports where men are not.

Serena Williams was famously photographed wearing a black catsuit for the 2018 French Open.

The tennis tournament later said that such an outfit would not be allowed again, with French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli saying ‘you have to respect the game and the place.’

Critics claimed the reaction of the ruling body was sexist, although there was no complaint from Williams.

At the Tokyo Olympics, German gymnast Elisabeth Seitz caused a stir when she bucked tradition by wearing a full body suit. 

Serena Williams famously donned a black catsuit to play at the French Open in 2018.

Williams' outfit caused a stir

Serena Williams famously donned a black catsuit to play at the French Open in 2018. The French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli stated that such an outfit was not allowed again at the tournament. 

The 27-year old said that she wanted to show that everyone, every woman, should choose what to wear. 

“Women have been controlled in sports for so long and in such a variety of ways that how they act, what’s appropriate, and what they can wear is important that they feel they have enough power to dress in a way that makes their bodies feel comfortable or that they can speak out against sexist policies. 

In a complete reverse of what happened earlier this year in Germany, the beach volleyball stars Karla Boger and Julia Sude announced that they would boycott a tournament at Qatar. They claimed that Qatar is the only country where players are prohibited from wearing bikinis on the court.

Borger said that while we were there to do our jobs, we are being prohibited from wearing our work clothes.

“This is the only tournament and country where a government tells me how to do my job. We are criticizing that.

German beach volleyball stars Karla Borger (right) and Julia Sude (centre) earlier this year said they would boycott at tournament in Qatar, saying it is 'the only country' where players are forbidden from wearing bikinis on court

German beach volleyball stars Julia Sude (right) and Karla Borger, (left) said earlier this year that they would boycott the tournament in Qatar. They claimed it is the only country where players can’t wear bikinis on court. 

The FIVB World Tour event was held in the Middle East country. However, strict rules regarding on-court attire led to Borger and Sude being disqualified from the world championships silver medallist.

In a major U-Turn however, the Qatar Volleyball Association(QVA) stated that there would be no restrictions on players wearing bikinis.

Female players were asked not to wear bikinis but to wear shirts and long pants. This rule was set by the FIVB, the world’s largest beach volleyball federation.

Qatar is a conservative Islamic nation where women are expected dress conservatively. However, there are many foreign workers and efforts to increase tourism so it is difficult to adhere.