World Swimming Federation Restricts Transgender Athlete Participation in Women’s Meets

World Swimming Federation Restricts Transgender Athlete Participation in Women’s Meets

The world governing body of swimming  — FINA — voted on Sunday to restrict the participation of transgender athletes in elite women’s competitions. 

In its announcement, FINA said it would create a working group to establish an "open" category for them in some events as part of its new policy.

The move comes amidst an intense debate in the sports world, after University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas became the first transgender NCAA champion in Division I history, after claiming the women's 500-yard freestyle title earlier this year.

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The new eligibility policy for FINA competitions states that male-to-female transgender athletes are eligible to compete only if "they can establish to FINA’s comfortable satisfaction that they have not experienced any part of male puberty beyond Tanner Stage 2 (of puberty) or before age 12, whichever is later".

“We have to protect the rights of our athletes to compete, but we also have to protect competitive fairness at our events, especially the women’s category at FINA competitions,” said FINA President Husain Al-Musallam. 

“FINA will always welcome every athlete,” he added. “The creation of an open category will mean that everybody has the opportunity to compete at an elite level. This has not been done before, so FINA will need to lead the way. I want all athletes to feel included in being able to develop ideas during this process.” 

Read the new policy here. 

PHOTO: 2008 FINA World Cup swimming at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. CC 2.0/Simon Sees