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Globally, the participation of women and girls in sport has increased tremendously. Much of this growth has been attributed to relatively recent changes in national and international law, yet few empirical studies exist that test this assertion. In this study, the role of law, specifically gender-based sports doctrine, is examined across four nations: the USA, Australia, Canada, and Iran. Results are mixed, suggesting women have increased their participation in elite sporting events despite national legal and bureaucratic variations regarding women in sport. On this basis, liberal feminist reliance on law as the primary determining factor for promotion of increased international opportunities for women is questioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]