Scotland has become the first country in the world to introduce a formal menstrual break policy in karate competitions, in a move expected to influence sport globally.
The Scottish Karate Governing Body (SKGB) has approved a new rule allowing athletes, officials and coaches who menstruate to request dedicated breaks during competition.
The policy provides competitors with up to 10 minutes to change their karate gi if menstrual blood becomes visible during or between bouts.
Under previous World Karate Federation regulations, athletes were typically given two minutes to change a blood-stained gi – a rule designed for injuries rather than menstruation.
The new Scottish policy formally recognises that menstrual bleeding is not comparable to an injury and may require more time to manage safely and with dignity.
The policy was developed by Dr Chloe Maclean, Director of Women and Girls’ Interests at Karate Scotland and a lecturer at the University of the West of Scotland, which has a campus in Paisley.
Menstruating officials and coaches will also be entitled to breaks, with regular three to four-hour rotations recommended to reduce the likelihood of emergency requests.
Dr Maclean said: “Menstruation affects a significant proportion of athletes, yet most sports policies still treat menstrual bleeding as either invisible or as a disciplinary issue when it becomes visible.
“We believe this is the first policy globally to explicitly recognise menstruation within competition rules and to make practical provision for it. Our aim is to support full participation and remove the stigma that still surrounds menstrual health in sport.”
It is hoped the policy will attract interest from other sports where white or light-coloured kits are standard, including tennis, cricket and athletics.
In recent years, several female tennis players have raised concerns about wearing white during menstruation. In 2023, players at Wimbledon were allowed to wear coloured shorts and underwear for the first time, while at the Women’s World Cup, several national teams, including England, switched from traditional white shorts to darker options.
While those changes have been welcomed, they remain optional, with some legal experts arguing that proper accommodation of menstruation may be required under the Equality Act 2010.
Paul Giannandrea, Chair of Karate Scotland, said: “As a governing body we have a responsibility to ensure our sport is inclusive and responsive to the realities faced by athletes.
“This world-first policy shows Scotland is leading the way in recognising menstrual health as a core part of athlete welfare. We hope it encourages other sports to follow suit.”
The policy will apply across all authorised competitions in Scotland, including kumite and kata events.
Research carried out by Karate Scotland found that 72% of respondents had missed a karate class due to their period, while 95% said they worried about leaking blood onto their gi.
The study also found that 61% had experienced leaking during karate, with just 2% feeling supported when it happened.
The governing body hopes the new policy will help normalise discussion around menstrual health and ensure athletes are not penalised or embarrassed during competition.