The International Handball Federation has updated its rules so that women will no longer be required to play in bikini bottoms, responding to months of pressure from female players and coaches who described the uniform requirements as sexist.
According to the new rules, which were published Oct. 3 and will go into effect Jan. 1, "Female athletes must wear short tight pants with a close fit.” The previous rules for beach handball required women to wear bikini bottoms "with a close fit and cut on an upward angle toward the top of the leg.” The sides of the bikini bottoms could not be more than 4 inches (10.16 centimeters).
The IHF, the sport’s governing body, did not provide a reason for the change.