The natural (biological!) physical advantages men have over women, even mediocre C-team men like Will Thomas, are beginning to prove troublesome. For example, swimming’s World Governing body kicked Thomas out of women’s events last year.
In a seismic move for Olympic sport which will mean that American swimmer Lia Thomas can no longer compete in elite races, swimming’s rulemakers announced that transgender women must now establish that they “have not experienced any part of male puberty.”
Fina, world swimming’s governing body, also announced plans to establish a new “open” category of competition to include transgender women that, according to president Husain Al-Musallam, would involve “some of our biggest events.”
Post-pubescent males must compete as men or in the new melting pot category.
British Cycling had to give men the boot from women’s competition until they’d found a diplomatic way to explain why men can’t just decide they are women and win all their competitions. And it looks like Fina has found the out they were looking for – even the British government is beginning to see the light.
“This is the right and sensible decision to take,” said Nadine Dorries, the Culture Secretary. “Fairness must always take precedent over inclusion and should be unequivocal. Also important that trans women are able to compete in own class, this is the solution.” …
Al-Musallam said swimming’s new policy was “based on real science” and there is confidence it will prove robust against any legal challenge in being “necessary and proportionate to achieve a legitimate” objective. “Our athletes must come first,” he said. “Of course, I understand why transgender athletes would like to compete in a category of their choice. However, I have an obligation to every single one of our athletes.
“Equality is also a key principle for us. This is why we are faced with such a delicate balancing act. We have to protect competitive fairness, and also the past records and achievements.”
Real science!
Competitive fairness.
The nerve of these people. And now British Rowing has jumped into the queue.
Transgender women will not be allowed to compete in the women’s category of British Rowing events, the sport’s UK governing body has announced ahead of a change in policy due to come in later this year.
Only athletes “assigned female at birth” will be allowed to compete in the women’s category in competitions under its jurisdiction, or be selected to represent Great Britain or England at international events, British Rowing said in a media release published Thursday.
But will they ever kick intact men posing as women out of women’s locker rooms?
