Fina stops transgender swimmers from competing in women's elite events

[Kendodd]

Common sense.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/swimming/61853450

It’s also pretty clear in the FINA athlete survey that both men’s and women’s competitions should be restricted to birth sex, with an additional open category added for competition.

Amazing news.

Well that is brilliant news!

Hu fucking ra !

😬😁

Really great news. The before twelve thing might be relevant to some people with DSDs, for example if internal testes are removed before puberty. (I don't know if that is ever done though.)

Surprised and delighted, particularly by how clear the margin on the vote was. I sort of feel like I should be sending Lia Thomas a thank you card.

The possibility of transition pre 12 does worry me. Not so much in the west, but in places, like Russia. They already had (have??) a state-sponsored doping programme; I could see them putting not quite good enough 10 year old boys onto blockers to try and make them into medal-winning 'women'. I'd like to see that exemption go. But, on balance, a good day.

Do we know what the justification is for a separate open category, why it is not just women and open? I can see that a separate open category could be quite isolating.

Some good news at last!

I think people thinking about children transitioning before the age of 12 to be able to compete in elite sports are missing a key point.

Athletes like Lia Thomas decided that they were women after competing at elite levels in men's sport, and decided to "transition" in their 20s or 40s. And people like Lia Thomas have simply reduced their testosterone levels, and seemingly have no interest in taking oestrogen or having any surgery, they never displayed any transgender signs earlier in their lives.

Put it this way, I question whether any of these athletes are actually trans. They've just seen a loophole that they can use to achieve success.

Brilliant news

Put it this way, I question whether any of these athletes are actually trans. They've just seen a loophole that they can use to achieve success.

I suspect there will be some quiet "de-transitioning" going on very shortly.

Because men don’t want men’s records to become open records?

I would say that fully 'transitioning' before the age of 12 <shudder> and all that that involves, is not compatible with competing elite sport anyway. I think that FINA knows this.

So, what now happens to Lia Thomas’s world record beating times?

No woman is going to be able to beat them, because they’re not women’s records.

I hope they are going to remove them.

Exactly. Anyone in elite swimming is swimming from a very young age, many hours. It just wouldn’t be compatible with the time taken to transition.

Elated to read this.

Do you think Lia will remain Lia despite this vote?

Ah yes hence my question.

Can't see how they can stop them . They are now women . That's the whole point isn't it ? By not letting them compete in womens events that's like saying they are not real women ? God what a crazy world we live in .

Have boxing followed suit yet or is that arsehole still boasting about beating up "cis" women?

Fallon Fox

That is what I was wondering.

But they're not women - they're transwomen. Different to women in so many ways and therefore not eligible for women's sport (and all other sex specific places).

"If we truly want to protect women's sports, we must include all women, we must include all women."

I found this a mixture of chilling and hilarious: am absolutely perfect example of doublethink.

I was also shocked to read the 'must have transitioned before 12' bit, but with a little more reflection, I take it in the same spirit as these old signs they used to have in corner shops:

Maybe, but would men really not be ok with that? Is the open category trying to be kind to transwomen and non-binary males who are triggered by the fact they are male and who could not therefore cope with being in a category labelled men's or gaining men's records (and who would therefore prefer open)? I suppose another reason (more likely) may be the risk that a womens and open category may diminish women's sports by suggesting that women have the option of competing in the open category (ie if they just tried a bit harder...).