The International Swimming Federation (FINA) lowered the boom recently, voting to approve a new policy to restrict most transgender athletes from competing in elite women’s aquatic competitions.
This was approved by swimming’s world governing body, approving the new gender inclusion policy on Sunday, June 20, CNN reported.
71.5% of FINA's member federations voted in support at the FINA Extraordinary General Congress 2022.
Now, a former Olympic swimmer has come forth to urge other sports to follow the example set by FINA.
Former British Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies has called on other sports to follow FINA’s lead and ban transgender female athletes from competitions.
The 59-year-old won an Olympic silver medal at the 1980 Games and is now one of the emerging vocal critics on the topic of allowing trans women to take part in female athletic events.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of my sport, FINA and the FINA president for doing the science, asking the athletes/coaches and standing up for fair sport for females,” Davies posted on social media. “Swimming will always welcome everyone no matter how you identify but fairness is the cornerstone of sport.”
The 59-year-old went on to say that more work is needed to level the playing field. One sport that was pointed out was cycling.
This comes a week after the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), unveiled stricter rules for trans female athletes by doubling the period before a rider transitioning from male to female can compete from 12 to 24 months based on testosterone levels, the Post reported.
“I think what cycling has done is disgraceful,” Davies told Daily Mail Sports. “They have basically said they are happy for female athletes to compete with a disadvantage. I’m afraid that is not acceptable in a world where we don’t believe in sex discrimination.”
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