Swimming’s world governing body, FINA, voted on Sunday to restrict transgender athletes’ participation in elite women’s competitions.
Transgender athletes must have completed their transition by the age of 12 in order to qualify to compete in women’s events under the new policy that will go into place on Monday, as reported by BBC.
GERMANY FALLS BACK ON COAL AS RUSSIA SLOWS GAS SUPPLY TO EUROPE
“FINA’s approach in drafting this policy was comprehensive, science-based and inclusive, and, importantly, FINA’s approach emphasized competitive fairness,” Brent Nowicki, the governing body’s executive director, told BBC.
The new policy, which was approved by 71% of FINA’s national federation members, aims to establish an “open” category for transgender athletes to compete in.
Transgender athletes’ participation in women’s competitions has become a major topic of debate in the sporting world in recent years. In 2020, World Rugby banned transgender women from international competitions, becoming the first international federation to do so.
University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas has been a recent target of scrutiny after the athlete became the first transgender NCAA champion in Division I history earlier this year, winning the women’s 500-yard freestyle.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Thomas, who has expressed hopes of competing for a spot in the Olympics, will be barred from participating in the women’s category under the new policy.
