Swimming’s transgender ban: British diving champion Tom Daley criticises FINA ban

British Olympic champion and outspoken LGBT advocate Tom Daley has taken aim at swimming for segregating transgender athletes in a furious rant.

British Olympic diving champion Tom Daley has slammed FINA for voting to ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s events.

Speaking at the British LGBT Awards, Daley told iNews he was livid when he heard about the decision.

“I was furious,” he said.

“Anyone that‘s told that they can’t compete or can’t do something they love just because of who they are, it’s not on.

“It‘s something I feel really strongly about. Giving trans people the chance to share their side.”

Daley, whose husband is Oscar winning screenwriter and director Dustin Lance Black, is an outspoken advocate on LGBT issues.

Tom Daley (right) with his husband, screenwriter and director Dustin Lance Black. Picture: Getty Images

After winning his first Olympic gold medal at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, he called on the International Olympic Committee to ban the inclusion of countries where homosexuality is punishable by death.

His criticism of FINA - the word governing body for aquatic sports, including, diving, swimming and water polo - follows its controversial decision, at its recent Congress in Budapest, to ban transgender women.

FINA said its policy change was based on scientific evidence and would provide fairness to women’s competitions.

The first major sporting body in the world to ban transgender athletes, FINA said it would create a new “open category” to ensure every athlete could compete and wouldn’t be left out.

FINA’s decision has been widely supported by most aquatics athletes - who voted overwhelmingly in support of the policy change - with Australian Olympic legend Cate Campbell one of two swimmers who addressed the Congress before the vote, to provide a first hand athlete perspective.

Other sports have not promised to look at their policies in the wake of FINA’s decision but not everyone supports the move, with LGBT advocates and human rights groups critical of the decision.