Sports governing body said guidance on transgender participation in sport would be  'heavily criticised'

Sport Ireland said any guidance on transgender and non-binary participation in sport was likely to create an 'intense debate', with the possibility of 'reputational risk' for the governing authority.

Ireland's governing authority for sport believed it was in a no-win situation as it looked to prepare guidance on transgender and non-binary participation in sport.

In internal discussions, Sport Ireland said views on the issue were “polarised and very strongly held” and any advice it gave was likely to be “heavily scrutinised”.