(Headline USA) World Athletics is considering introducing its own restrictions on transgender participation in women’s sports after FINA, swimming’s governing body, voted to ban transgender athletes who transitioned after puberty from competing in elite women’s events.
Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, said his governing body, which dictates the rules for professional track and field events, is examining the data and statistics on the issue and will make a decision some time soon.
“We continue to study, research and contribute to the growing body of evidence that testosterone is a key determinant in performance, and have scheduled a discussion on our regulations with our council at the end of the year,” Coe said, according to BBC Sport.
FINA defended its new restrictions following leftist backlash this week, arguing that they are based on sound scientific data proving transgender athletes have a significant physical advantage over female athletes.
“FINA’s approach in drafting this policy was comprehensive, science-based and inclusive, and, importantly, FINA’s approach emphasized competitive fairness,” Brent Nowicki, the governing body’s executive director, said to the BBC.
The new rules will prevent Lia Thomas, a male swimmer who competed on the University of Pennsylvania’s women’s swimming team this year after transitioning, from competing in the U.S. Olympics.
Former British Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies called on all sports governing bodies to pass similar restrictions.
“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,” she said. “Swimming will always welcome everyone no matter how you identify, but fairness is the cornerstone of sport.”
