FINA, swimming’s world governing body, has voted to enact a new policy restricting transgender participation in elite competitions.
The move, announced Sunday, requires transgender athletes to have completed their transition by age 12 in order to compete in women’s competitions.
Taking effect Monday, the new policy also includes the establishment of a working group to create a new “open” category for swimmers that don’t meet the criteria for men’s or women’s categories.
“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,” James Pearce, the spokesperson for FINA president Husain Al-Musallam, told The Associated Press. “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.”
The ruling comes after Lia Thomas became the first openly transgender woman to win an NCAA Division I women’s swimming title in March….
