FINA bans transgender swimmers from competing against women

FINA: the international governing body for swimming competitions has approved new policies for transgender swimmers on Sunday.  The new policies bar transgender athletes from competing against biological women in elite events, except under one condition.

The new rule goes into effect on Monday. Will allow exceptions for transgender swimmers to compete if and only if they completed their transition by age 12.

James Pearce FINA spokesperson president Husain Al-Musallam told the associated press, “This is not saying that people are encouraged to transition by the age of 12. It’s what the scientists are saying, that if you transition after the start of puberty, you have an advantage, which is unfair,” He added, “They’re not saying everyone should transition by age 11; that’s ridiculous. You can’t transition by that age in most countries, and hopefully you wouldn’t be encouraged to. Basically, what they’re saying is that it is not feasible for people who have transitioned to compete without having an advantage.”

FINA also created a new “open competition policy” this new category would most likely allow transgender athletes to compete in their own separate category. The organization stated, “a new working group that will spend the next six months looking at the most effective ways to set up this new category.”

rent Nowicki – the governing body’s executive director – said, “FINA’s approach in drafting this policy was comprehensive, science-based and inclusive, and, importantly, FINA’s approach emphasized competitive fairness.”

The science group advised:

Biological sex is a key determinant of athletic performance, with males outperforming females in sports (including Aquatics sports) that are primarily determined by neuromuscular, cardiovascular, and respiratory function, and anthropometrics including body and limb size. The extent of the male/female performance gap varies by sport and competition, but the gap universally emerges starting from the onset of puberty. The group reported that there are sex-linked biological differences in Aquatics, especially among elite athletes, that are largely the result of the substantially higher levels of testosterone to which males are exposed from puberty onwards.

Brent Nowicki – the governing body’s executive director – said, “FINA’s approach in drafting this policy was comprehensive, science-based and inclusive, and, importantly, FINA’s approach emphasized competitive fairness.”