Handball Federation changes sexist rule mandating bikini bottoms after worldwide scrutiny

Athletes competing in tournaments held by the International Handball Federation will now be allowed to wear bike shorts and tank tops during beach competition, reversing a controversial rule that required all athletes to wear bikini bottoms or face a hefty fine. 

Five sports ministries from Nordic countries petitioned the federation in September "to review uniform rules in accordance with gender equality." That came after Norway's beach handball team was fined in July for not wearing mandated bikini bottoms at the European Beach Handball Championships in Varna, Bulgaria.

In an open letter, the sports ministers from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Finland urged "the International Handball Federation and other international sports federations to review uniform rules and to allow athletes to be dressed in a way that suits performance and comfort."

Sexist?:Norway team fined for wearing shorts instead of bikini bottoms in European Beach Handball

Widespread criticism followed the July incident, prompting "sexist" backlash over social media. Norway-based Australian activist Talitha Stone started a petition shortly afterwards that garnered more than 60,000 signatures, and pop singer Pink offered her support to the Norwegian team. The IHF got the message, changing the official rules, although no formal announcement was made. 

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The European Handball Federation (EHF) originally fined Norway for "improper clothing" back in July when its players showed up wearing shorts instead of bikini bottoms in the bronze medal match against Spain. The fine was for 1,500 euros which comes out to $1,767.39 in American dollars. 

The EHF's disciplinary commission said the shorts were "not according to the athlete uniform regulations defined in the IHF (International Handball Federation) beach handball rules of the game."

Norway's Handball Federation announced beforehand it would pay for the fine after permission was initially denied. Each player was fined 150 euros apiece to equate to the 1,500 total. 

"The EHF is committed to bring this topic forward in the interest of its member federations, however, it must also be said that a change of the rules can only happen at IHF level," EHF spokesman Andrew Barringer said in a public statement at the time in July.