Transgender athletes who have experienced male sexual maturity will not be able to participate in elite swimming competitions (Getty)

The FINA World Championships have endorsed a ban on transgender athletes from participating in women’s races when they reach male adolescence.

FINA, the FINA Sports Federation, plans to establish an “open” category for transgender athletes.

Under the new rules, transgender swimmers must be under the age of 12 to compete in women’s competitions.

Earlier this year, Lia Thomas became known as the first transgender athlete to win the NCAA swimming championship in the 500m freestyle.

However, her participation in the event was met by protesters at Save Women Sports, with other athletes also criticizing the decision to allow Thomas to compete.

According to FINA’s statement, transgender athletes can only compete if FINA can comfortably demonstrate that they have not experienced some of the sexual maturity of men after Tanner stage 2 or before the age of 12. later’.

Leah Thomas is known as the first transgender athlete to win the NCAA Swimming Championship earlier this year.

Lia Thomas is known as the first transgender athlete to win the NCAA Swimming Championships earlier this year (Getty).

FINA President Hussein Al Hussein said: “Athletics must protect the rights of athletes, but especially in FINA competitions for women, the fairness of their activities must also be protected.

“FINA always welcomes all athletes. Creating an open category means that everyone has the opportunity to compete at the elite level. This has not been done so far, so we FINA have to move forward. In the process, we want all athletes to feel involved in the development of their ideas”.

Former British Olympic swimmer Sharon Davis wrote on Twitter:

“Swimming is always welcomed by all, no matter how we identify it, but fairness is the foundation of the sport.”

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