Banda burst onto the international scene by recording back-to-back hat tricks against the Netherlands and China at the Tokyo Olympics. It was Zambia’s first appearance in women’s football at the World Cup or Olympics, and Banda’s second hat-trick secured a 4-4 draw against China.
The International Olympic Committee and FIFA have different eligibility criteria for gender verification, hence Banda’s appearance at the Olympics but not the Nations Cup.
FIFA’s gender verification policy, which dates from 2011, states that “androgenic hormones have performance-enhancing effects” and that “gender verification is therefore of particular importance.” The public document does not indicate a precise testosterone threshold.
FIFA is updating its policy, according to a Reuters report last month. A FIFA spokesperson told Reuters the organization was “reviewing its gender eligibility rules in consultation with experts.”
Andrew Kamanga, president of the Zambian football federation, is said to be in Morocco during the Nations Cup and working with CAF to find a solution. Banda is also training in Morocco, but a resolution is unlikely before the end of the tournament.
Without Banda, Zambia managed a scoreless draw Sunday against Cameroon and beat Tunisia, 1-0, on Wednesday. The Zambians lead Group B with four points and can qualify for the round of 16 with a draw or win against Togo on Saturday. Zambia are looking to secure their first World Cup appearance, with the top four teams gaining automatic entry and two others qualifying for the intercontinental qualifiers.
Banda plays for Chinese club Shanghai Shengli but has been linked to a possible move at Real Madrid.
Gender eligibility requirements have become an important topic in international sports in recent years. Last summer, two Namibian sprinters were excluded from the women’s 400 meters at the Tokyo Olympics due to naturally high testosterone levels. South African middle-distance runner Caster Semenya, who won Olympic gold in the women’s 800 meters in 2012 and 2016, faced eligibility questions surrounding testosterone levels for over a decade.
In addition to the IOC and FIFA, international swimming, cycling and athletics federations have announced new gender eligibility policies in recent years or are considering reviewing their policies.
