FINA, the governing body for international swimming, has approved new policies for trans swimmers that will take effect on Monday. The “gender mainstreaming policy” will only allow swimmers who have passed before the age of 12 to participate in women’s competitions. FINA members voted 71.5% in favor of the new policies. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE AT FOXNEWS.COM Leah Thomas is looking to win the women’s 500 yards freestyle during the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships at the McAuley Aquatic Center on the Georgia Institute of Technology campus March 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Mike Comer / NCAA Photos via Getty Images) There was also a proposal for a new “open competition policy”. The agency said it was setting up “a new working group that will spend the next six months looking at the most effective ways to create this new category”. In its 24-page policy released on Sunday, FINA clarified how trans men and women will be allowed to compete under the new rules. FINA has said that transgender men are eligible to compete in FINA competitions and set a world record in the men’s category unless: “For the water polo and scuba diving disciplines, the athlete must provide FINA with a risk-taking form signed and dated by the athlete or, if the athlete is a minor, by his / her legal representative” or “All athletes undergoing treatment which includes Testosterone or other anabolic substances as part of female-to-male sex reassignment hormone therapy is required to receive a Therapeutic Exception (TUE) for this treatment in accordance with FINA Doping Control Rules. “ Transgender women and athletes whose legal gender and / or gender identity is female can compete in FINA-approved events if they can “demonstrate FINA’s comfortable satisfaction that they have not experienced any part of male adolescence beyond From Tanner Stage 2 or before the age of 12, whichever is later. “ Lia Thomas looks off the podium after finishing fifth in the 200 Yard Freestyle during the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships at the McAuley Aquatic Center on the Georgia Institute of Technology campus on March 18, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Mike Comer / NCAA Photos via Getty Images) POLLS FOR AMERICAN THOUGHTS ABOUT BRIBE ATHLETES DISSATISFIED WITH TWITTER USERS: “CONFIRMS WHAT WE ALL KNOW” The athlete must provide evidence that he has “a complete lack of androgen sensitivity and therefore has not been able to experience male puberty” or “He is androgen sensitive but male puberty has been suppressed starting at Tanner stage 2 or before the age of 12” , which is later, and since then have consistently maintained their serum (or plasma) testosterone levels below 2.5 nmol / L “or” An involuntary deviation from the requirement below 2.5 nmol / L may lead to rejection of the results and / or in a future period of inadequacy or “deliberate deviation from” The requirement of less than 2.5 nmol / L FINA DRC for intentional breaches of anti-doping rules including anabolic steroids. “ The trans athlete who does not meet the fitness standards can compete in “any open events” that the body could develop in the future. “We must protect the rights of our athletes to compete, but we must also protect competitive justice in our competitions, especially the women’s category in FINA competitions,” said FINA President Hussein al-Moussalam. FINA’s new policies take effect on Monday. (iStock) “FINA will always welcome every athlete. Creating an open class will mean that everyone has the opportunity to compete at the elite level. This has not been done in the past, so FINA should lead. I want all athletes to feel included in the ability to develop ideas during this process “. Lia Thomas’s sudden appearance in the pool during the NCAA swimming season shone the spotlight on the new rules. Thomas became the first trans swimmer to win the NCAA and Ivy League Championships in recent months. He swam for the University of Pennsylvania. CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION Thomas told Sports Illustrated last month that she would be looking for a place on the national swimming team ahead of the 2024 Olympics. Ryan Gaydos is the sports editor for Fox News and Fox Business. Story tips can be sent to [email protected]
