World Swimming Bans Transgender Athletes from Women’s Events

Published Jun. 21, 2022, 10:45 a.m. ET | Updated Jun. 21, 2022

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June 21, 2022 Updated 10:45 A.M. ET

TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – World swimming’s governing body (FINA) banned transgender athletes from competing in women’s events Sunday. 

FINA members voted 71.5% for a new “gender inclusion policy” that only allows swimmers who transitioned before age 12 to compete in women’s events. 

A spokesperson for the FINA president told The Associated Press that it is not possible for people who have transitioned to compete without having an advantage. 

“This is not saying that people are encouraged to transition by the age of 12. It’s what the scientists are saying, that if you transition after the start of puberty, you have an advantage, which is unfair,” James Pearce, who is the spokesperson for FINA president Husain Al-Musallam, told The Associated Press.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is staunchly against transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. He signed a proclamation declaring Virginia swimmer and Sarasota resident Emma Weyant the “rightful winner” of the 2022 NCAA championship over transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.

The Governor also signed the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” in 2021 that prevents a biological male from competing on a female sports team. 

Women have fought for decades to have equal opportunities in athletics, and we have to prevent those opportunities from being eroded as is happening in other states. It’s common sense,” DeSantis said.

Most Americans do not want transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, according to a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll. 

New Poll: Most Americans Do Not Want Trans Athletes Competing in Women’s Sports

The online poll sampled 1,503 adults between May 4th to May 17th of 2022. The poll found 55% of Americans do not want biological males, who identify as transgender, to compete in women’s high school sports. 

That number was even higher when asked about professional and college sports. The poll showed 58% of Americans did not want transgender athletes who are biologically male to compete in those women’s sports. That number dropped to 49% for youth sports. 

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