Headgear approved for use by world basketball body

FILE - In this June 16, 2015, file photo, East African Muslim girls practice basketball in their new uniforms in Minneapolis. Members of basketball's international governing body are expected to vote to eliminate a rule that bans religious headgear during competition. The vote could come during a meeting on Thursday or Friday, May 5, 2017. Headgear was banned for safety reasons two decades ago out of fear it could fall off, causing a player to slip or become entangled. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File) (The Associated Press)

HONG KONG – Basketball's international governing body has approved a new rule that will allow players to wear headgear that complies with their religious faith.

The Switzerland-based body, known as FIBA, says the rule will take effect in games from on Oct. 1.

Then, players can wear hijabs, turbans and yarmulkes after a 20-year ban on head coverings that was initially imposed for safety reasons.

FIBA member federations passed the rule Thursday at a congress in Hong Kong after studying the issue since 2014, and with several conditions on design and color.

Headgear will be permitted under the following conditions: must be black, white or the same dominant color as a team's uniform; not cover any part of the face entirely or partially; and have "no opening/closing elements around the face and/or neck."