Budapest, Hungary — World swimming’s governing body has adopted new rules for transgender athletes, allowing only swimmers who have transitioned before the age of 12 to compete in the women’s events.
FINA members voted 71.5% in favor of the new “gender inclusion policy” at the organization’s extraordinary general congress on Sunday. This will be applicable to all its events from Monday.
The 24-page policy also includes proposals for a new “open contest” category. FINA said it is setting up a “new working group that will look at the most effective ways to establish this new category over the next six months.”
The members voted after hearing presentations from three expert groups – an athletes group, a science and medical group and a legal and human rights group – working together to create policy following recommendations made by the International Olympic Committee last November. Were were
The IOC urged attention away from individual testosterone levels and sought evidence to prove when a performance advantage existed.
In March, Lia Thomas made history in the United States as the first transgender woman to win the NCAA Swimming Championships. He won the 500-yard freestyle.
Other sports have also been scrutinizing their rules.
On Thursday, cycling’s governing body updated its eligibility rules for transgender athletes with stricter limits that would force riders to wait longer before competing.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) extended the transition period on low testosterone to two years, and lowered the maximum accepted level of testosterone.
The previous transition period was 12 months but the UCI said that recent scientific studies show that it takes at least two years for “the anticipated adaptation in muscle mass and muscle strength/strength” among athletes transitioning from male to female. .
