Sport New Zealand is allowing transgender athletes to participate in community sports in the gender they identify as.

They've released new guiding principles today that state that athletes should not need to prove or justify belonging to a particular gender identity at the grassroots level.

Sport New Zealand chief executive Raelene Castle says that these guidelines were designed to ensure that everyone feels included in sports, regardless of background.

"They are a set of guidelines that will help sports look at their particular environments and consider how they can make it more inclusive for athletes. "

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