BUDAPEST, June 20, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Swimming will set up an 'open category'

to allow transgender athletes to compete as part of a new policy which will
effectively ban them from women's races.

"I do not want any athlete to be told they cannot compete at the highest
level," Husain Al-Musallam, president of governing body FINA, told an
extraordinary congress of his organisation.

"I understand why transgender athletes want to compete in the gender of their
choice...but we should not favour one athlete over another."

"I will set up a working group that will establish an open category at some
of out biggest events. We will be the first international federation to start
this work."

He was speaking as FINA unveiled a policy on inclusivity which was then
approved by the members.

The policy received a cautious welcome from American swimmer Alex Walsh after
she won the women's 200m medley at the world championships later Sunday
evening.

"I'm happy that FINA are... re-evaluating the rules," she said.

"I am not really sure what the answer is to keep things fair but obviously I
hope that everyone is able to compete and as long as they are finding a way
to do that then I am happy."

Brent Nowicki, FINA's CEO, said the organisation was determined "to maintain
the separation of aquatic sports into men's and women's categories."

- 'Principals of fairness' -

He added that "FINA recognises that ... this policy means certain individuals
may not be able to compete in the category that best aligns with their legal
gender, gender identity or gender expression."

"All of us... must always, within the principals of fairness, must ensure the
inclusion of all individuals irrespective of their gender orientation."

Under the rules, he said, male competition would effectively be open to all.

But "male-to-female transgender athletes... can only compete as female
athletes in FINA competition, and set a world records in the female category,
if they can establish they have not experienced any part of male puberty."

In the debate that followed, the policy drew criticism from members of the
FINA medical committee Christer Magnusson, of Sweden, and David Gerrard from
New Zealand.

"To ask or expect an 11, 12 year old boy to make a decision that will effect
the rest of his life is a big ask," said Gerrard.

Last year, the International Olympic Committee announced guidelines but asked
federations to produce their own 'sport-specific' rule.

FINA set up three expert committees, one medical, one legal and one of
athletes, to look at the issue.

The medical committee found that men who transitioned to woman retained
advantages.
 
"Some of the advantages males acquire in puberty are structural and are not
lost with hormone suppression," said Dr Sandra Hunter of the Marquette
University in Milwaukee.

"These include larger lungs and hearts, longer bones, bigger feet and hands."

The legal experts concluded that the policy of excluding most transgender
swimmers would be legal.

They were "necessary and proportionate to achieve a legitimate objective,"
said London-based barrister James Drake.

For the swimmers, Cate Campbell, an Australian four-time Olympic gold
medallist said: "My role is to stand here today and tell trans people we want
you to be part of the broader swimming community ... but also to stand here
and say... 'listen to the science'."

In the United States, swimming has moved to the centre of the debate over
transgender women competing against natal women, as Lia Thomas has become the
face of the issue.
 
Thomas, a freestyle specialist, competed for the University of Pennsylvania,
men's team from 2017-19.

After transitioning and undergoing required hormone therapy, she raced on the
women's team this season.

Thomas became the first known transgender athlete to win an elite US
collegiate title when she edged Olympic medley silver medallist Emma Weyant
in the 500m freestyle in Atlanta in March.