The governing body of world swimming has approved restrictions on the participation of transgender athletes in top competitions.
Only athletes who have completed transitioning by age 12 will be allowed to compete. The new rules received 71% of the vote Sunday from the 152 FINA members meeting at the world championships in Budapest, after a transgender task force that included medical, legal, and sports representatives presented its report on the issue. The policy, which AP calls effectively a ban, takes effect today.
The vote also gave a working group six months to create an open category in which transgender swimmer could compete in certain events.
Former college swimmer Lia Thomas, who has said she wants to continue competing, declined to comment on the policy change Sunday.
