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swimming makes major transgender athlete ruling
In a historic decision, swimming is set to become the first sport to set up an “open category” to allow transgender athletes to compete in a separate class at the elite level.
But the policy — passed by a vote of the FINA Congress in Budapest — will exclude many transgender athletes from women’s elite swimming.
Under the rules male competition is open to all. But male-to-female transgender athletes can only compete as females in FINA competition if they haven't experienced any element of male puberty.
FINA set up three expert committees — one medical, one legal and one of athletes — to examine the controversial issue and the implications of any decision.
The medical committee found that men who transitioned to women after puberty retained advantages, including larger lungs and hearts, longer bones, and bigger feet and hands.
The legal experts concluded that the policy of excluding most transgender swimmers would be legal.
In the US, swimming has moved to the centre of the debate over transgender women competing against natal women, as Lia Thomas has become the face of the issue.
Thomas competed for the University of Pennsylvania, men’s team from 2017-19. After transitioning and undergoing required hormone therapy, she raced on the women’s team this season.
Thomas became the first known transgender athlete to win an elite US collegiate title when she edged Olympic medley silver medallist Emma Weyant in the 500m freestyle in March.
Words: Staff writersProducer: Andrew Piva
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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/web-stories/free/the-australian/fina-makes-historic-ruling-on-transgender-athletes-2