Montréal, QC – Karate Canada is pleased to announce that, following its recommendation, the World Karate Federation (WKF) has approved a new version of the rules which will allow all athletes to wear a head covering during competition for religious reasons. Prior to this change, only female athletes were permitted to wear a head covering. This decision, which underscores the WKF value of inclusion, will come into effect on January 1, 2019. In 2016, Mr Jai Sanghera, a Sikh member of Karate British Columbia, notified Karate Canada that the current iteration of the rules were a barrier to participation in international competition. Karate Canada agreed that this was the case and begin to work on a submission with the support of the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, Sport Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee President Tricia Smith, members of the Canadian Sikh Community, Karate British Columbia, and many individual members of the Karate Canada Community who wrote letters of support on behalf of Jai. To read full statements from Mr. Craig Vokey, Karate Canada President, and the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, please click here.