FIBA To Allow Players To Wear Religious Headgear From Oct. 1

Basketball players "will be allowed to wear headgear for religious reasons" after FIBA on Thursday approved a new rule to come into effect from Oct. 1, according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. FIBA said in a statement, "The new rule comes as a result of the fact that traditional dress codes in some countries, which called for the head and/or entire body being covered, were incompatible with FIBA's previous headgear rule." Qatar's women's team withdrew from the 2014 Asian Games in South Korea "after being denied permission to wear the hijab on court." FIBA began a two-year revision and testing period in Sept. '14, granting exceptions at the national level. FIBA said that the new rule, "which would also allow turbans and yarmulkes, would minimize the risk of injury while ensuring uniform was of a consistent color" (REUTERS, 5/4).