Ivy also criticized FINA’s plans to explore an “open” category as part of its policy, which was passed on Sunday after a vote in its extraordinary general congress, saying that such The move does not show respect for trans athletes.
FINA’s decision, the strictest by any Olympic sporting body, came after members heard a report from a transgender task force, which included medical, legal and sporting figures.
The new eligibility policy for FINA competitions states that male-to-female transgender athletes are eligible to compete only if “they have completed Tanner Stage 2 (of puberty) or before the age of 12, whichever is later.” Yes, men haven’t experienced any part of puberty.”
Canadian Ivy, who in 2018 became the first transgender UCI Masters world track cycling champion by winning in the women’s 35-44 years category, called FINA’s policy “unscientific”.
“There hasn’t been a single peer-reviewed study on trans female competitive swimmers to show that there is any competitive advantage for transitioning to puberty,” Ivy said.
“So the break-off point for separating puberty is not based on any evidence, it is not based on looking at the benefits for trans women, they have only seen cisgender male athletes compared to cisgender female athletes.
“That’s not how it works. When you’re trying to single out trans women, you need to study trans female athletes … FINA hasn’t done that.”
With the World Championships currently taking place in Budapest, FINA was not immediately available for comment.
But FINA argues that some physiological benefits remain intact, despite the testosterone suppression of trans female athletes after male puberty, which is supported by a study by doctoral researcher Joanna Harper of Loughborough University.
That paper concluded that “strength may be well preserved” in trans women during the first three years of hormone therapy.
‘Meaning Competition’
“It is appropriate to ban trans women in sporting events at international level,” Harper said, adding that she was disappointed but not surprised by FINA’s policy.
“Restricting participation to only those trans women who have never experienced male puberty is not necessary to ensure meaningful competition for all women.
“In terms of the open category, I’m skeptical, but I’ll reserve judgment until I see the finished product. Will there be Olympic medals in swimming in the open category? Will swimmers in that category be able to earn a living? Will you be professional?”
Debate over trans women athletes has intensified after University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas became the first transgender NCAA champion in Division I history after winning the women’s 500-yard freestyle this year.
Rugby league also banned transgender players from women’s international competition on Tuesday.
Football’s global body FIFA is in the consultation process on transgender participation, while world athletics chief Sebastian Coe has praised FINA for its stand.
The International Cycling Union has also tightened its rules on transgender participation.
Ivy said FINA’s decision was likely because of Thomas, who has not won a world title or competed in the Olympics.
“There are attacks on trans people in the United States… people are trying to restrict access to treatment and healthcare and sports… Politicians are calling for us to be killed,” she said.
“That’s the context in which we see something like this.”
Harper said it was important for sporting bodies to continue collecting data.
“I suggest that whatever decisions they make today, they review them regularly and hopefully, as more and better data is published, they will create better policies,” Harper said.
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