Governing Body of Swimming Bans Transgender Swimmers from Women’s Events

The governing body of world swimming endorsed a ban on transgender women from competing in women’s events, effective immediately.

FINA, the governing body of world swimming endorsed a ban on transgender women from competing in women’s events, effective immediately.

FINA adopted a “gender inclusion policy” that prohibits all transgender women who transitioned after age 12 from competing in women’s events.
FINA spokesman James Pearce 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.”
The measure passed with 71.5 percent support at an extraordinary meeting of FINA’s top officials.
Swimming’s governing body also plans to set up an “open” category for transgender swimmers who’d be prohibited from female swimming competitions under this policy.

CNN asked if swimming’s policy change would “lead to a wider change in sports” and noted the change is the “strictest from any Olympic sports body.”
PinkNews interviewed trans athletes who transitioned from male to female and benefitted from FINA’s previous policies. The athletes blasted the ban as “transphobic” and insisted “this is not about protecting women’s sports.”
Financial Times interviewed Hillary Clinton, who argued Democrats should not spend so much time “elevating activist causes” like “the transgender debate.” Clinton argued, “The alternative [to losing the next election] is so frightening that whatever does not help you win should not be a priority.”

Fox News interviewed four-time Olympic gold medal winner in swimming Cate Campbell. The Australian athlete supported FINA’s new policy and has argued that “the separation of gender categories is one of the only reasons why women can be seen as equals in the sport.”
Daily Wire observed the policy would prohibit athletes like UPenn transgender swimmer Lia Thomas from elite swim competitions. Before this policy, Thomas had planned on competing in the women’s Olympic trials.
National Review characterized FINA’s policy as a ban on “biologically male athletes who have gone through male puberty from competing in women’s competitions.”

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