The International Swimming Federation (FINA) voted this Sunday to ban the participation of transgender women in elite women’s competitions, if athletes have experienced male puberty.
The decision was approved by 71.5% of the representatives of the 152 countries that make up the federation, in a vote that took place during the European Swimming Championships, in Budapest, Hungary.
Before the vote, FINA presented a report from a scientific panel, which proved the advantage of transgender swimmers over cisgender opponents, even after having reduced their testosterone levels through medication.
In a regulation published by the federation, transgender women can see the green light to compete in the women’s category, but only if they “prove that they have not experienced the second phase of male puberty (which marks the beginning of physical development), or if they have made the transition before the 12 years, whichever comes later.
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