FINA has voted to modify the rules governing transgender athletes by prohibiting every woman that was born male and transitioned after 12 years from competing in the women’s division in all world swimming competitions organized by the governing body.
The vote has not closed as the new policy was approved with 71. 4 % of approval which means that the American swimmer Lia Thomas will no longer compete in the women’s category, in a case that has sparked controversy due to the controversial nature of this transgender athlete.
In the 24-page policy documents, there is also a proposal that is being developed to create an “open category”, which is neither male nor female, which has six months study period in order to ensure that every individual can compete in this sport.
The process to reach the recent vote came after a series of hearings held by FINA in which, owing to the International Olympic Committee’s recommendation, three groups were heard, one put together by athletes, another by medical and scientific specialists, and the last one by the legal and human rights group.
Lia Thomas’ case is special because she was the first transgender woman to win an NCAA national swimming competition. She won the 500-meter freestyle last March.
In the petition of IOC to FINA and other sports, the focus was asked to shift from verifying the testosterone levels produced by each person and focusing on the scientific evidence to back the fact that no competitive disadvantage exists among athletes.
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