Perugia expelled Cogliandro due to her pregnancy.
Italy's maternity protection laws for professional athletes combine general labor protections with specific sports employment agreements to safeguard pregnancy rights. Elena Cogliandro's recent case, where she was reportedly pressured to leave her team after announcing her pregnancy, has drawn attention to the need for better enforcement and cultural acceptance in the sports sector.
General Maternity Protection in Italy
Italy has robust laws protecting women's rights during pregnancy, including special provisions in employment. The primary legislation, Legislative Decree No. 151/2001, guarantees at least 5 months of paid maternity leave, job protection, and health and safety measures for pregnant women.
Specific Provisions for Athletes
Sports professionals in Italy, like Cogliandro, are also covered under specific regulations. National Collective Agreements (CCNL) for professional athletes often include clauses on maternity rights, ensuring paid maternity leave, protection against discrimination due to pregnancy, and the possibility to suspend contracts temporarily for maternity without penalty.
Anti-Discrimination Laws
The Italian Constitution ensures equality and prohibits discrimination based on sex. Law No. 120/2020, also known as the "Code of Equality," explicitly prohibits discrimination related to pregnancy in the workplace, including in sports. European legislation, such as the EU Directive 2010/18/EU, also supports maternity protection rights within member states, including Italy.
Challenges and Gaps in Sports
Despite legal protections, pregnant athletes sometimes face practical and cultural obstacles. Cases like Cogliandro’s highlight the need for better enforcement, awareness, and tailored protections in the sports sector.
The Cogliandro Case
Cogliandro, a 29-year-old center, had her contract terminated by Black Angels Perugia after informing them she was pregnant. She reported experiencing psychological abuse during the contract termination process and continued training with the club for six months after discovering her pregnancy.
Black Angels Perugia hopes that Cogliandro's story will serve to highlight the need for a regulation that more clearly regulates the maternity process to protect athletes. Cogliandro accumulated 15 years with Black Angels Perugia, rising from Serie A2.
Minister's Response
Minister Abodi has promised to improve communication about a maternity support program for athletes that offers a contribution of 1,000 euros for 12 months. Abodi and his colleagues (Manfredi and Fabris) will verify the effectiveness of the norms. Manfredi expressed total solidarity with Cogliandro and promised to investigate the matter with the club involved.
Conclusion
While Italy has strong laws protecting maternity rights, cases like Cogliandro’s show that practical and cultural obstacles persist in the sports sector. Better enforcement, awareness, and tailored protections are needed to ensure that all athletes, regardless of their reproductive status, can thrive in their careers. Cogliando no longer wants anything to do with the world of volleyball due to the treatment she received.
- The health-and-wellness sector in Italy, like the sports industry, demands improved maternity protection to shield pregnant individuals from discrimination and ensure their rights, as demonstrated by the recent case of Elena Cogliandro within the sports field.
- The women's health regulations in Italy include provisions specific to employment, where sports professionals, such as Elena Cogliandro, are protected by National Collective Agreements (CCNL), providing clauses on maternity rights, paid leave, protection against discrimination, and the suspension of contracts without penalty.
- Elena Cogliandro's case fall under not only Italian legislation guaranteeing equality and prohibiting discrimination based on sex, but also European Union Directive 2010/18/EU, which supports maternity protection rights across member states, including Italy, in the domains of both science and health-and-wellness.
