BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) – The world leader for swimming has adopted new rules for transgender athletes, allowing only swimmers under the age of 12 to dive in women’s competitions.
On Sunday at the organization’s Extraordinary General Congress, FINA members voted with 71.5% in favor of the new “gender inclusion policy”. It will be available at all its events from Monday.
The 24 -page policy also contains proposals for a new “open competition” category. FINA said it was setting up a “new working group that will spend the next six months on the most effective ways to create this new category.”
The IOC called for change from individual testosterone levels and sought evidence to show when there was a performance advantage.
In March, Leah Thomas made history in the United States as the first transgender woman to win the NCAA swimming championship. He won 500 yards in freestyle.
Other sports are also studying their rules.
On Thursday, the bike governing body changed the rules for transgender athletes with stricter limits, forcing cyclists to wait longer before they can compete.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) has increased the transition period for low testosterone to two years and reduced the maximum acceptable testosterone level.
The previous transition period was 12 months, but the UCI said recent scientific studies have shown that “the expected adaptation of muscle mass and strength / muscle strength” in athletes who make the transition from male to male in females lasts at least two years.
Source: Huffpost
