Representatives of member unions voted on it at an extraordinary congress in Budapest on Sunday. There were 196 votes in favor, 42 against and 36 abstentions.
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The vote was taken after the congress participants heard reports from a working group composed of doctors, lawyers and sports personalities. FINA did not completely rule out the participation of transgender athletes in women’s competitions. However, they must undergo a gender reassignment within 12 years.
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Aquatics Integrity Unit members elected, new gender inclusion policy adopted during the FINA Extraordinary Congress in Budapest 👇https://t.co/04Row3OLjf
– FINA (@ fina1908) June 19, 2022
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“I do not want athletes to be told that they cannot compete at the highest level,” said FINA President Hussein Musallam. “We will set up a working group to create an open category during our competitions. We will be the first federation to do so,” the Kuwaiti official added.
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Two delegates from Sweden and New Zealand questioned this approach, saying that it would be difficult for anyone to decide to take such a crucial step in life within the age of 12. Musallam replied that he would pass this objection to the working group.
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“We must protect the rights of our athletes to compete, but we must also protect the fairness of the competitions at our events, especially in the women’s category,” Musallam said.
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Swimmer Lia Thomas after winning the university championship.Photo: @Forbes, Twitter
The starts of transgender athletes among swimmers began to be intensively debated after American Lia Thomas won the women’s 500-yard race at the NCAA University Championship after a gender reassignment in March this year. The participation of New Zealand transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard at last year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo sparked similar debates.
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