Call for a transition in pools

THE World Swim Coaches Association has called for transgender athletes to be banned from women’s events, instead proposing the introduction of elite trans competition similar to the way Paralympic and multi-disability athletes have forged strong international racing events.

In an open statement that will be presented to swimming’s world governing body FINA for consideration, the WSCA recommend “trans males” and “trans females” be afforded their own competitive fields to ensure fairness for all.

The WSCA considered options that included making all men’s competition “open” or non-declared gender events, but felt this would be a disadvantage to biologically born females who identified as males.

At the same time, it was felt those same athletes couldn’t compete fairly against biological women as the risk of hormone therapy would be akin to doping.

The WSCA statement said that under a trans division, “the Trans Females will race each other. The Trans Males will race each other.”

The International Olympic Committee, however, wants only two racing categories.