Finally

Comments

9 responses to “Finally”

1. 

   Sackbut

   Jun 19, 2022 9:13 AM

   Very welcome news.

   I wonder how this ruling and this kind of policy will interact with the push for access to puberty blockers. Will it increase demand by (adults guiding) young boys who might wish to participate in girls’ and women’s sports? Will they just give up? Will puberty blockers be shown not to do a complete job of preventing all puberty for the sake of compliance with this rule, especially in regard to adult swimmers?
2. 

   Ophelia Benson

   Jun 19, 2022 9:24 AM

   I wonder if Lia Thomas will give his medals back.

   Hahaha just kidding, of course he won’t.

   I bet he will “detransition” though.
3. 

   GW

   Jun 19, 2022 10:20 AM

   @2: I assume it works like a peerage. If you were officially registered as male at the time you got into the line of the peerage (i.e. at birth), then you still get to get the peerage even if in the meantime you have transitioned to, or, ahem, come out as, female. So, similarly, if Lia Thomas is officially registered as female currently (is he?), then he gets to keep his medals even if he bravely and stunningly comes out as male in the future.

   I assume.
4. 

   Sackbut

   Jun 19, 2022 3:36 PM

   Here is the start of a good discussion about the pressure to transition early and block puberty, in light of this ruling.

   https://twitter.com/JamesEsses/status/1538555826998235137?t=d0zyWp4l79_gzLnkh1ZixQ&s=19
5. 

   Skeletor

   Jun 19, 2022 4:05 PM

   Finally

   I think you mean FINAlly, amirite?

   Sorry.

   Yep, good news. This should be the minimum default position (the maximum being it’s not even considered even if they allegedly blocked all male puberty).
6. 

   James Garnett

   Jun 19, 2022 4:50 PM

   Apparently this ruling doesn’t affect Thomas or his medals, since he was swimming in NCAA events. Hopefully the NCAA will come to the same conclusion as FINA, though.
7. 

   Rob

   Jun 19, 2022 5:02 PM

   I checked our main online news site (Stuff) this morning. Under the category ‘other sports’ there are at least four articles dealing with trans sport at the moment. That’s a significant percentage of the total showing. it’s such an extraordinary level of capture. When MeToo or BLM captured similar headline share in general or political news sections there was a vigorous and sadly widespread pushback, both online and in the real world. This issue, not so much.

   Interestingly, one of the articles is this one…

   https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/129008459/new-gender-diverse-category-small-adjustment-big-impact

   It’s about a minor running race that has created a separate ‘gender diverse’ category. Good on them. It’ll be interesting to see what happens.
8. 

   Rev David Brindley

   Jun 19, 2022 5:14 PM

   FINA’s rules will only apply at FINA sanctioned events, including the Olympics and world championships. Individual nations can still make their own rules for local competitions.

   Therefore, no William Thomas at the Olympics, but he can still swim as a woman in national events.

   Small steps

   Female athletes who transition to men (transgender men) will be allowed to compete in FINA competitions in the men’s category.

   But transgender women – who transition from men – will be deemed ineligible after FINA heard evidence from scientists that it is unfair for biological men to race against women.

   In one case study provided by the scientific group, it was shown that once boys reached the age of 14, they could outswim the fastest open age female swimmers in history.

   Professor Sandra Hunter, who graduated from the University of Sydney and is an expert in human performance, told the Congress the scientific evidence was overwhelming:

   “Let’s be clear, testosterone is an anabolic steroid and energises athletic performance,” she said.

   The Congress also heard from Australian swimming legend Cate Campbell, who made an impassioned speech calling for delegates to vote to protect female athletes but also to find a way to include transgender athletes.

   .
9. 

   Papito

   Jun 20, 2022 4:15 AM

   This is huge. Finally a sporting body has shown some spine. Let them be a model for others.