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FINA, the governing body for international swimming, has approved new policies for transgender swimmers, which will take effect on Monday.
The “gender mainstreaming policy” will only allow swimmers who have passed the age of 12 to compete in women’s competitions. FINA members voted 71.5% in favor of the new policies.
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Leah Thomas watches after winning the 500 yards freestyle for women during the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & amp; McAuley Water Center Diving Championships on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology on March 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photos by Mike Comer / NCAA via Getty Images)
There was also a proposal for a new “open competition policy”. The organization said it was setting up “a new working group that will spend the next six months looking for the most effective ways to create this new category”.
In a 24-page policy released Sunday, FINA states how transgender men and women will be allowed to compete under the new rules.
FINA stated that transgender men have the right to compete in FINA competitions and set world records in the men’s category, unless:
For water polo and high jump disciplines, the competitor must provide FINA with a risk-taking form signed and dated by the Athlete or, if the Athlete is a minor, by his / her legal representative or “All Athletes Undergoing Treatment Including Testosterone or other anabolic substances as part of female-to-male sex-promoting hormone therapy are required to receive a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for this treatment in accordance with FINA’s doping control rules. “
Transgender women and athletes whose legal gender and / or gender identity are women may compete in FINA-sanctioned competitions if “they can establish to satisfy FINA that they have not experienced any part of male puberty after stage 2. or before the age of 12, whichever is later. “
Leah Thomas watches from the podium after finishing fifth in the 200-yard freestyle during the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Strengthening; McAuley Water Center Diving Championships on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology on March 18, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photos by Mike Comer / NCAA via Getty Images)
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The athlete must provide evidence that he / she is “completely insensitive to androgens and therefore unable to experience male puberty” or “They are sensitive to androgens, but male puberty is suppressed, starting with Tanner’s stage 2 or before the age of 12, which of the two is later, and since then they have consistently maintained their serum (or plasma) testosterone levels below 2.5 nmol / L or “Unintentional deviation from the 2.5 nmol / L requirement may lead to retrospective disqualification. of results and / or prospective period of inadmissibility or “Intentional deviation of less than 2.5 nmol / L requirement may result in retrospective disqualification of results and future period of inadmissibility equal to or commensurate in length with periods imposed under FINA DRC for intentional anti-doping rule violations involving anabolic steroids. “
A transgender athlete who does not meet the eligibility standards can compete in “any open events” that the organization may develop in the future.
“We need to protect the rights of our athletes to compete, but we also need to protect the fairness of our events, especially in the women’s category of FINA competitions,” FINA President Hussein Al-Musalam said in a statement.
FINA’s new rules take effect on Monday. (iStock)
“FINA will always welcome every athlete. Creating an open category will mean that everyone has the opportunity to compete at the elite level. This has not been done so far, so FINA will have to lead. I want all athletes to feel involved in the ability to develop ideas during this process. “
Leah Thomas’ sudden appearance in the pool during the NCAA swimming season shed light on the new rules. Thomas became the first transgender swimmer to win NCAA and Ivy League championships in the last few months. She swims for the University of Pennsylvania.
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Thomas told Sports Illustrated last month that he would be looking for a place on the national swimming team before the 2024 Olympics.
Ryan Gaidos is the sports editor of Fox News and Fox Business. Story tips can be sent to Ryan.Gaydos@fox.com.
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