To be relieved the world is starting to see some sense?

[portugalq]

Fina bars transgender swimmers from women's elite events if they went through male puberty www.bbc.co.uk/sport/swimming/61853450

Great to hear.
Fair, safe sport should be available to all.

Its in line with both The Equality Act and The Gender Recognition Act as sports is a sex affected activity, so its hard to see why anyone would think its unreasonable.

It's great news!

A category separate from 'male' and 'female'. I don't see how anyone can coherently argue against that.

I can see (but not necessarily agree with) the logic that "I identify as a female so I want to compete against other females" but surely no-one can claim discrimination when 'male' means 'biological male, born with a penis and an X chromosome' and if you feel like you don't want to be categorised as 'male' then that's fine. But it doesn't mean you can enter the door marked 'female'. You can compete in the arena where biological sex doesn't matter. 'Male/female/ him/her/they everyone's welcome here'.

Now, how can you argue against that without showing your true hand of wanting to compete against women because you have a biological advantage. Does biology matter or not? Can't be both. Either biology is important, and therefore you must compete in line with your chromosomes or it's not important, how you feel is what's important, in which case, great! You can choose to compete with like-minded individuals.

So pleased to hear this. perhaps the tide is starting to turn (at last)

Excellent news!

At last!

I've been saying to have a third category for years.

My son is a para swimmer and it's always made sense to me that physical biological development etc can and should be categorised and you just have another event like you do with para swimming.

Although I see the support groups are still not yet able to tell the difference between being a biological woman and identifying as one (which has no scientific basis as gender is a social construct!)

Great news although I expect it will go through several rounds of legal challenges.

Good stuff.

It's a good start, that's for sure.
Let's hope it spreads to non elite women's swimming too and all other women's sporting events.

Not being unreasonable

It's a start at least!

It’s a start , let’s hope it’s pushed all the way back 🤞🏻

YANBU! Great news. Can’t understand how it got to this. Things have been bizarre.

Always knew it'd be sport that peaked people.

For full inclusivity it’s the only option. However, in reality it will just be a category for Trans women.

Men will not compete in this group as there is no prestige attached to winning as the trans swimmers will be of a much lower standard. Trans men compete as they have no chance of winning against trans women.

Plus the times in the Open category will be most likely be compared to the Mem’s and as a result will fall way short, as let’s face it Lia who was winning almost everything in the women’s category was fairly mediocre as a male swimmer.

The truth is that the trans women athletes can only be considered ‘elite’ athletes and win if they are competing in the women’s category. I don’t think this fight is over, The TRA and their allies on Twitter are probably going ballistic.

They can go as ballistic as they fucking well like. Any legal challenge will be met with-"OK, make your case, show us the evidence". Game over, they dont have any-and they know it, hence the toddler tantrums.

Male puberty >>> male sports for you, laddy

What happened in Bristol?

Its brilliant news,!!

There should be a female class, and an "open" class for everyone else who wants to participate. The open class would be mainly men, but trans and even women could go in the open class.

Sport ruling bodies also need to tackle rules over transmen, or you can get situations like Mack Beggs who was born female but transitioning to male as a teenager. Rules did not allow him to compete in the men's competitions that he wanted, and he had to compete in the women's which he won easily two years running.

I also wonder why FINA want a third category of competition when surely "Female" and "Open" are the only two that are necessary ie. scrap the men's category. Several sports allow men and women to compete against each other, so what objections are there for this to happen in the "open" category?

Hopefully the 'still' men will compete in it too, show them how it feels to be perpetually pitted against someone with a biological/hormonal advantage.

They'd be the first to fucking moan and cry unfairness.

Great news.