In the wake of American swimmer Lia Thomas winning an NCAA championship in March, FINA, the international organization that oversees the sport, ruled Sunday that transgender athletes can no longer compete in female events unless they underwent their transition prior to puberty. Even then, they would have to submit to testosterone testing.
Instead, FINA will look to create “Open” divisions for transgender competition if demand is there.
“We have to protect the rights of our athletes to compete, but we also have to protect competitive fairness at our events, especially the women's category,” FINA President Husain Al-Musallam said in a statement.