The World Aquatics guidelines relateod to World Ramkings and World Records. Each organisation is permitted to set their own rules but have to abide by World Aquatics rules for qualifiying events.
It becomes a bit ridiculous when organisations say for National League events these are the rules but local events / non competitive / below age X .. etc others rules may apply... even Seb Coe. Head of International Athletics said he will protect the female athletics category at elite level but 'would die in a ditch' to defend the right of a trans person to play grassroots sports in the category in which they identify.
Even the Sports Councils of England, Scotland and Wales have hidden the declarations that female category is based on biology deep within a website called 'moving towards inclusion' and then within the 'transgender policy'.
It results in apparently fair competition at a certain level.. lots of media coverage questioning the rules ... lots of loopholes, ambiguity and confusion.
The biggest outcome is that women and girls are left feeling that they matter less than men, they do not get their fair share of access, support and encouragement. They feel angry, hurt and confused.
10 years ago, sporting organisations were starting to really focus on the factors that encouraged and supported women.. these efforts have been significantly impacted by the focus on the language used in policies, the focus on trans inclusion, but mostly hampered by fear of mentioning the word girl or women for fear of being called transphobic, being questioned, being derailed by theoretical discussions while girls and women are ignored.
All policies should all state first:
Eligibility for Participation by Sex category: Principle of fundamental right to fairness and equality of the sexes.
Women: Biological Females XX Chromosomes No exceptions
Other: All other
No ambiguity, no discussion.
Secondary to this should be an inclusion policy: sport is for all, everyone should be made welcome, measures to include whatever your identity.. etc etc