• As part of its new policy, the world governing body of swimming, FINA, decided to limit the participation of transgender athletes in top women’s competitions
• After University of Pennsylvania swimmer, Lia Thomas won the women’s 500-yard freestyle earlier this year, 
• The new FINA rule would prevent Thomas from competing for a spot in the Olympics, despite her declared desire to do so.

As part of its new policy, the world governing body of swimming, FINA, decided on Sunday to limit the participation of transgender athletes in top women’s competitions and to form a working group to develop a “open” category for them in specific events.

As sports try to strike a balance between diversity and ensuring there is no undue advantage, transgender rights have emerged as a key talking point.

After University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas won the women’s 500-yard freestyle earlier this year, becoming the first transgender NCAA champion in Division I history, the discussion became more heated.

The new FINA rule would prevent Thomas from competing for a spot in the Olympics, despite her declared desire to do so.

After hearing a report from a task committee made up of prominent legal, medical, and sporting experts, FINA’s decision—the harshest by any Olympic sports body—was taken during its special general congress.

Male-to-female transgender athletes are only permitted to compete in FINA competitions if they “can establish to FINA’s full satisfaction that they have not undergone any part of male puberty beyond Tanner Stage 2 (of puberty) or before age 12, whichever is later.”

The members of 152 national federations with voting powers present for the congress at the Puskas Arena approved the policy with a margin of about 71 percent.

“We have to protect the rights of our athletes to compete, but we also have to protect competitive fairness at our events, especially the women’s category at FINA competitions,” said FINA President Husain Al-Musallam.