The Fina association makes it virtually impossible for trans people to take part in the competitions. A separate competition category should be created for this.
The World Swimming Federation Fina has taken a restrictive stance on the participation of transgender athletes in women’s competitions. Instead, an “open category” is to be created in which international championships are also to be held. World Federation President Husain Al-Musallam announced on Sunday at an extraordinary congress on the sidelines of the Swimming World Championships in Budapest that a working group would be set up to create them.
The new Fina-Policy on dealing with transgender athletes was approved with 71 percent of the 152 voting national federations. Accordingly, gender reassignment must be completed before the twelfth birthday in order to be allowed to compete in women’s competitions. Alternatively, it must be proven that you have not yet gone through a certain phase of male puberty before the execution. It is the strictest valid transgender regulation in all Olympic sports federations.
Fina wants to be the “leader” on this issue
Transgender rights have become a major talking point in sport in recent years. It is important to find the balance between promoting inclusion and preventing competitive advantages. “Creating an open category will mean everyone has the opportunity to compete at elite level,” said Al-Musallam. This has never happened before in any other sport. “The Fina will have to lead on this issue.”
The debate in swimming recently intensified after the University of Pennsylvania’s Lia Thomas became the first transgender athlete in the United States to win a college championship. Last year, New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard became the first transgender athlete to compete in the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
(APA/Reuters)
–
