FINA Makes A Break About Transgender Participation In Women's Numbers, FIFA And World Athletics Will Join

Swimming illustration. (Photo: Pexels / Jim De Ramos)

JAKARTA - The international swimming federation (FINA) has issued a new regulation which has recently become a topic of discussion. They agreed to limit the participation of transgender (male to a female) athletes in women's events.

The new policy was taken by FINA on Sunday, June 19, yesterday by conducting an internal vote. FINA will also form a working group to formulate an "open" category that transgender can participate in several events as part of the new policy of the world swimming body.

The new policy also states that transgender swimmers (male to a female) are only allowed to participate in the female number if they can prove and fulfill FINA satisfaction that the person concerned has never experienced male puberty beyond Tanner Stage 2 (sexual maturity puberty scale) or before the age of 12 years. whichever is later.

This FINA policy seems to be soon adopted by the World Football Federation (FIFA) and World Athletics (World Athletics). The two federations said they would review their regulations following FINA's latest stance.

A FIFA spokesman told Reuters as reported by Antara that their agency was undergoing a consultation process to formulate a new policy.

"FIFA is currently reviewing gender-based opt-in regulations and consulting expert stakeholders", the spokesperson said.

"Given that this process is still ongoing, FIFA will not comment in detail on the proposed changes to the existing rules", the spokesperson added.

FIFA also said it would seek input from medical, legal, scientific, performance, and human rights experts, as well as the position of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

"If FIFA is asked to verify the eligibility of a player before the new regulations come into effect, such cases will be handled on a case-by-case basis, while maintaining FIFA's real commitment to respecting human rights", the spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, World Athletics President, Sebastian Coe, told the BBC that his agency's board would discuss a similar regulatory discourse at the end of this year.

Coe also praised FINA's firm move, even though it was the target of criticism among transgender rights activists.

"We see an international sports federation strengthen their ability to create rules, regulations, and policies that are best for the benefit of sport", the spokesperson said.

"That's how it should be. We must always believe that the biological aspect is above gender and will continue to review our regulations in line with that spirit. We will follow the direction of science.

"We are continuing to study, research, and contribute to adding to the growing evidence that testosterone plays a major role in determining performance, and have scheduled discussions about our regulations with our board at the end of the year", Coe added.

Last year, the IOC issued a "framework" of reference for the matter, while delegating the final decision on the eligibility for the performance of transgender athletes to each sporting federation.

However, the IOC stipulates that "until such time is proven otherwise, athletes shall not be deemed to have an unfair or disproportionate competitive advantage because of variations in their sex, physical appearance, and/or transgender status".