Since the 1990s, there is an ever-growing literature relating to experiences of lesbian and gay athletes at various levels of elite sports in North American and European context. Majority of this literature documents a considerable shift from exclusion to inclusion of lesbian and gay athletes in different sports. Considering scarcity of research showing the accounts of lesbian and gay athletes outside Western context, in this paper we aim to provide insights to experiences of lesbian and gay athletes in Turkey. Drawing on interviews with lesbian and gay athletes, statements by some sport officials and discourses on national newspapers and sport magazines, we argue that that lesbian and gay athletes in Turkey face a large extent of homophobia and sexuality and gender expression based discrimination at different levels of sport. we also contend that in addition to being (in)formally policed by their sport federations or peers, lesbian and gay athletes self-govern their sexuality and gender expressions on and off the field in order to avoid exclusion and discrimination and so being able to go on their sport careers.