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FINA, the governing body of international swimming, approved new policies for transgender swimmers that will take effect on Monday.
The “gender inclusion policy” will only allow female swimmers who have made the transition before the age of 12 to compete in women’s events. FINA members voted 71.5% in favor of the new policies.
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Lia Thomas looks after winning the 500-yard women’s freestyle during the NCAA Division I Division I Women’s Swimming and Swimming; Diving Championship at the McAuley Aquatic Center on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology on March 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Mike Comer / NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
There was also a proposal for a new “open competition policy”. The organization said it was creating “a new working group that will spend the next six months looking for the most effective ways to set up this new category.”
In the 24-page policy published on Sunday, FINA explained how transgender men and women will be able to compete under the new rules.
FINA said transgender men are eligible to compete in FINA competitions and set world records in the men’s category unless:
“For the disciplines of Waterpolo and High Diving, the athlete must submit to FINA a risk assumption form signed and dated by the athlete or, if the athlete is a minor, by his representation All athletes undergoing treatment involving testosterone or other anabolic substances as part of treatment with hormones that claim female to male gender are required to obtain a Therapeutic Use Exemption (AUT) for this treatment in accordance with the FINA Doping Control Standards “.
Transgender women and athletes whose legal gender and / or gender identity are female can compete in FINA-sanctioned events if “they can establish with the comfortable satisfaction of FINA that they have not experienced any part of male puberty. beyond Tanner stage 2 or before the age of 12, whatever it is. “
Lia Thomas looks from the podium after finishing fifth in the 200-yard freestyle during the NCAA Division I Women’s 2022 Division I Swimming and Swimming; Diving Championship at the McAuley Aquatic Center on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology on March 18, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Mike Comer / NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
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The athlete must present evidence that she has “complete androgen insensitivity and therefore has not been able to experience male puberty” or “They are sensitive to androgens, but male puberty has been suppressed from Tanner stage 2 or before the age of 12, whichever is later, and since then they have continuously maintained their serum (or plasma) testosterone levels below 2.5 nmol / L “or” An unintentional deviation from the lower requirement. at 2.5 nmol / L may result in retrospective disqualification of the results and / or a prospective period of disqualification or “An intentional deviation from The requirement below 2.5 nmol / L may result in retrospective disqualification of the results and a prospective period of ineligibility equal to or proportional to the length of the periods imposed under FINA DRC for intentional violations of anti-doping rules involving anabolic steroids. “
Transgender athletes who do not meet eligibility standards may compete in “any open event” that the organization may hold in the future.
“We need to protect the rights of our athletes to compete, but we also need to protect competitive equity in our events, especially the women’s category in FINA competitions,” said FINA President Husain Al-Musallam. in a statement.
FINA’s new policies come into force on Monday. (iStock)
“FINA will always welcome all athletes. Creating an open category will mean that everyone has the opportunity to compete at an elite level. This has not been done before, so FINA will have to lead. I want all athletes to feel included so they can develop ideas during this process. “
Lia Thomas’ sudden appearance in the pool during the NCAA swimming season highlighted the new rules. Thomas became the first transgender swimmer to win NCAA and Ivy League championships in recent months. He swam for the University of Pennsylvania.
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Thomas told Sports Illustrated last month that he would look for a place on the national swimming team before the 2024 Olympics.
Ryan Gaydos is the sports editor for Fox News and Fox Business. Story tips can be sent to Ryan.Gaydos@fox.com.