Genital Protectors in sport: Are they fit for purpose?

Genital protectors are used in some high velocity ball sports to protect the genital area from impact. The only safety standards available are compiled in the United Kingdom in year 2000. Failing to meet safety standards may increase the inherent risk involved with playing certain sports, especially for male players. We review the literature on genital protectors, test them in different settings, analyse materials using software simulation and garner the perspective of the elite cricketers with regards to their use. We hypothesise that the current genital protectors are not fit for purpose and revision of their design and manufacture is warranted.