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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Jack Snape

Protect pay and rankings to support female athletes to have children, guidelines say

Jessica Stenson of Australia celebrates winning Commonwealth games marathon gold with her son Billy in 2022
Marathon runner and 2022 Commonwealth champion Jessica Stenson is one of many Australian athletes to achieve success after having children. Photograph: Darren England/AAP

The pay, ranking and status of female athletes should be protected when they have children, according to groundbreaking recommendations released on Thursday and backed by the federal government – including athletes who take time away from sport to prepare for having a child or to undergo fertility treatment.

The Australian Institute of Sport, Central Queensland University and the Queensland Academy of Sport jointly developed the recommendations designed to support athletes from preconception to parenthood.

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