FINA, the world’s top international swimming association, announced a new policy on gender inclusion on Sunday that further restricts biological males identifying as females from elite swimming competitions.
The move comes following a vote of the FINA governing body regarding the controversial issue of biological males participating in women’s swimming.
“We have to protect the rights of our athletes to compete, but we also have to protect competitive fairness at our events, especially the women’s category at FINA competitions,” FINA President Husain Al-Musallam said in a <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.fina.org/news/2649715/press-release-fina-announces-new-policy-on-gender-inclusion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
The new policy also seeks to consider an “open” category for transgender athletic competition.
“FINA will always welcome every athlete. The creation of an open category will mean that everybody has the opportunity to compete at an elite level. This has not been done before, so FINA will need to lead the way. I want all athletes to feel included in being able to develop ideas during this process,” he added.
The only biological males who could compete in women’s swimming under the <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://resources.fina.org/fina/document/2022/06/19/525de003-51f4-47d3-8d5a-716dac5f77c7/FINA-INCLUSION-POLICY-AND-APPENDICES-FINAL-.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new policy</a> would include swimmers who have had “male puberty suppressed beginning at Tanner Stage 2 or before age 12, whichever is later, and they have since continuously maintained their testosterone levels in serum (or plasma) below 2.5 nmol/L.”
The new policy would prohibit athletes like Lia Thomas from competing in elite swim meets. Thomas made history earlier this year as the first transgender swimmer to win an event at the NCAA Division I women’s swimming championships.
Thomas had also shared plans to pursue professional swimming with hopes of reaching the Olympics in women’s swimming. The new policy may threaten the option for Thomas and similar swimmers.
“I intend to keep swimming,” Thomas <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-sports-college-swimming-united-states-olympic-team-14e7fd8d820a331d7aeb72b34cdc83e6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> ABC. “It’s been a goal of mine to swim at Olympic trials for a very long time, and I would love to see that through.”
Former U.K. swimmer Sharron Davies told BBC Sport she agreed with the decision.
“‘Four years ago, along with 60 other Olympic medallists, I wrote to the IOC and said ‘Please just do the science first’ and no governing body has done the science until now,’” she <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/swimming/61853450?at_custom4=5FFA7C4C-EFE5-11EC-95E3-9FCC923C408C&amp;at_custom2=facebook_page&amp;at_campaign=64&amp;at_custom3=BBC+News&amp;at_medium=custom7&amp;at_custom1=%5Bpost+type%5D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
“‘That is what [FINA] has done. They’ve done the science, they’ve got the right people on board, they’ve spoken to the athletes, and coaches. Swimming is a very inclusive sport, we love everyone to come and swim and be involved. But the cornerstone of sport is that it has to be fair and it has to be fair for both sexes,’” she added.
Athlete Ally, a pro-LGBT group that supported Thomas in women’s swimming, spoke out against the new policy.
“FINA’s new eligibility criteria for transgender athletes and athletes with intersex variations is discriminatory, harmful, unscientific and not in line with the 2021 IOC principles. If we truly want to protect women’s sports, we must include all women,” Athlete Ally <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://twitter.com/AthleteAlly/status/1538548251841990663" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a> on Sunday. International Swimming Federation
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
FINA’s new eligibility criteria for transgender athletes and athletes with intersex variations is discriminatory, harmful, unscientific and not in line with the 2021 IOC principles. If we truly want to protect women’s sports, we must include all women. <a href="https://t.co/MDjrWB6GrU">https://t.co/MDjrWB6GrU</a>
&mdash; Athlete Ally (@AthleteAlly) <a href="https://twitter.com/AthleteAlly/status/1538548251841990663?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2022</a></blockquote>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

FINA Restricts Biological Males Identifying As Females From Elite Swimming Competitions

CONTINUE READING

District Judge Blocks California’s COVID ‘Misinformation’ Law

New York GOP Leaders Demand Answers For Migrant Relocation In Upstate Town

Arkansas Senate Bill Classifies Drag Shows As ‘Adult-Oriented Businesses’ In Effort To Protect Children

‘Subject To Felony Prosecution’: Gov. Kristi Noem Warns South Dakota Pharmacists Against Dispensing Abortion Pills

Ted Cruz Introduces Bill To Block Non-Citizens From Voting In Washington, D.C.

Ted Cruz Introduces Constitutional Amendment To Enforce Term Limits For Congress

Sports

LGBTQ

Lia Thomas

Swimming

Transgender Athletes

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— Sports —

FINA Restricts Biological Males Identifying As Females From Elite Swimming Competitions