The governing body, Fina, in charge of swimming activities, has prevented transgender women from participating in female competitions. This ban is also particular to men that have reached puberty by the biological transformation. The decision was made after a vote was cast in National Federations, with the notion reaching about 71% support. Although participants reduced their testosterone level, they still had an advantage over cisgender female swimmers. You can check liontips.com/tips/today for updated news on your favorite athlete or team.
Controversies About Transgenders Participating in Swimming Competitions
The latest controversy about transgender people’s participation in swimming competitions was about Lia Thomas. Lia Thomas was a male who was well known in male swimming categories. However, he was not recognized in the top positions during these times. When Lia Thomas identified as a female and participated in the women’s team, she was rewarded for the first position.
Some people argued this was unfair for other competitors in the game, while others believe his success should instead be applauded. Nevertheless, the ban placed by the Fina governing body had restricted his participation in future women’s swimming competitions.
What is the New Policy Surrounding Transgender Swimming Competitions?
A male-to-female transgender person can participate in a cisgender competition, provided the person has not undergone puberty. The body President commented the decision was not made to strip athletes of their rights but rather to encourage fair competition. Part of the new policy is to create another group for transgender individuals.
The new policy does not yet apply to every national level. For instance, NCAA, known as the US college championships, has not implemented this policy yet. A national federation will have to decide whether it’s operating based on the Fina policy.
Is Swimming Against Particular Genders?
Several people assume that Fina’s judgment is discriminatory toward a specific set of people. kissy e-wallet, the President said over the news that the decision aims to fit every swimmer into the sport. Every identity is allowed into swimming competitions but must be done in all sense of fairness.
According to a British international swimmer, Sharon Davies, the judgment will ensure the women’s category competitions are as fair as possible. She believed Fina also has some empathy for individuals who would not be able to participate in the category they identify with.
Swimming is a sporting activity that has existed for a long time, with records of iconic swimmers. These iconic swimmers consist of both male and female genders, such as Micheal Phelps and Debbie Meyer. Hence, there is no discrimination against any gender. If there is any update on the decision made by Fina, it will be communicated to the public.
Conclusion
The new policy has made swimming top second place in the Olympic governing body. Undoubtedly, Fina’s decision had caused some arguments and criticism regarding human rights. Although there seems to be an unease among some athletes, the governing body hopes to clarify more about the matter. The policies should be subsequently reviewed to ensure a fair game and justice among athletes or participants.
