The world’s leading swimming authority, Fina, has voted to ban transgender women from elite women’s competitions if they have experienced any part of male puberty, in a seismic solution that sets it apart from most Olympic sports.
The decision, taken by 71% of the 152 national federations at the World Cup in Budapest, was followed by a report by a Fina scientific panel that found that trans women retain a significant advantage over cisgender swimmers, even after lowering testosterone levels through medicines. .
In a new 34-page policy paper, Fina said that male to female transgender athletes can now compete in the women’s category only “provided they have not experienced any part of male puberty since Tanner’s stage 2.” [which marks the start of physical development]or before the age of 12, whichever is later. “
Commenting on the policy, Fina President Hussein al-Musalam said: “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 has promised to set up a working group to create an “open” category for trans women in some events as part of its new policy.
“Fina will always welcome every athlete,” added Musalam. “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 be the leader. “
Voting makes swimming only the second Olympic governing body since World Rugby in 2020 to introduce a scientific ban. Most other sports have used testosterone restrictions as a basis to allow trans women to compete in the women’s category, a position that encourages inclusion but has been criticized for being unfair.
There was widespread concern in the sport after Leah Thomas, who was a moderate swimmer in college as a male athlete, managed to win the NCAA National College title in the United States this year. Others argue that Thomas is an innovator whose success and identity should be celebrated, not limited. However, this vote means that Thomas will no longer be able to compete in the women’s category at the Paris Olympics, as planned.
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Former British swimmer Sharon Davis welcomed the news, saying on Twitter: “I can’t describe to you how proud I am of my sport, President of Fina and Fina for pursuing science, asking athletes / coaches and defending fair sports for women. . Swimming will always welcome everyone, no matter how you identify them, but justice is the cornerstone of the sport. “
Karen Pickering, another former swimmer, said: “I was at the Fina Congress for presentation, discussion and voting and I can vouch for the care and empathy shown to all athletes who will no longer be able to compete in their gender category. can be brought into line with … but competitive justice for the category of women must be protected. “
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