Female beach handball players will no longer have to compete in bikinis, the sport's international federation has declared – three months after it fined Norway's team $1,700 for wearing shorts at the European Beach Handball Championships.

Norwegian Handball Federation President Kare Geir Lio called the change "both a real and symbolic step" toward combating gender inequality in the sport.

"I think it's good for the game, but first of all, it's good for the women, and it's good for how we treat each other in sports," he told NBC News.

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The penalty caused worldwide outrage and U.S. pop star Pink offered to pay the fine. She tweeted at the time: "I'm very proud of the Norwegian female beach handball team for protesting the very sexist rules about their 'uniform'. The European handball federation should be fined for sexism. Good on ya, ladies. I'll be happy to pay your fines for you. Keep it up."

From January 2022, women will be required to wear "short tight pants with a close fit" and a "body fit tank top" when competing, according to the new rules published by the International Handball Federation.

While it may be a step in the right direction, the new uniform regulations still differ between men and women – women's shorts are still required to be fitted, whereas men have no such rule.

(Photo by Ilnar Tukhbatov/Epsilon/Getty Images)