Trans Swimmers Excluded From Women S Competitions As Former Team Gb Star Sharron Davies Praises Justice Of Decision

Global swimming regulator Fina says the move will make women’s swimming fairer and “protect the rights of our athletes to compete”. 3 Trans swimmer Leah Thomas will be barred from competing against other women after Fina announced that she is banning trans athletes who have gone through male adolescenceCredit: Reuters 3 Former Olympic swimmer Sharon Davis backs moveCredit: Andrew Barr Transgender women will only be eligible to compete against other women if they complete the transition by the age of 12. Also, they should not have gone through male adolescence. The ruling means that US-born male swimmer Lia Thomas has been barred from competing against women. Thomas, who arguably won an American college championship in March, had previously hinted that she would compete in the 2024 Olympics. Prior to her move, Thomas was ranked 554th in the men’s 200-yard swim. He will be able to participate in competitions that have a new “open category”. Sixteen of her Penn State teammates sent a letter to U.S. college sports bosses asking for her expulsion. About 71 percent of Fina members voted in favor of the latest rule change. Former Team GB swimmer Sharron Davies, 59, welcomed the news. She wrote on Twitter: “Swimming will always welcome everyone, but justice is the cornerstone of sport.” He thanked the body that “makes science” and “supports the fair sport for women”. Fina consulted a team of doctors and athletes. Former United States World Swimming Champion Summer Saunders, 49, said: “This protects the integrity of the existing sporting process.” Sports Minister Nadine Dorries said other sports should follow the example of swimming and ban trans women from competing in women’s competitions. Instead, trans athletes will have to have their own separate category to compete, he said. He told LBC last night: “I think it’s absolutely the right decision they made. “It is simply unacceptable for trans women to compete in women’s sports. “If you have gone through adolescence, you can not reverse the size of your legs, the density of your bones… “If you are born biologically female or male, you can not change it. “You can be a woman or a man and the government will support you; but you can not compete with a sex you were not born with.” 3 Thomas, who is currently competing in the women’s category in swimming competitions, has broken the women’s record Credit: AP