World Aquatics, the ruling figure for swimming, has postponed a prearranged Open class for transgender sportspersons at the 2023 Swimming World Cup in Berlin this week after no admissions were received.
“Following the close of registration for the Open Category competitions at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup – Berlin 2023 meet scheduled for 6-8 October, World Aquatics can confirm that no entries have been received for the Open Category events,” the athletic body previously called FINA declared.
World Aquatics had prohibited transgender athletes who had transitioned after the age of 12 from competing in any women’s class.
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Transgender World Cup swimming category CANCELLED after not a single trans swimmer entered.
After an open category was introduced to help make sports fairer, trans athletes refused to participate in the swimming World Cup and instead have demanded to compete in the women’s category- so they have a stronger advantage.
The swimming World Cup, due to begin in Berlin this Friday, introduced new rules for trans swimmers last year banning biological males competing in the women’s category unless they had completed their transition by age 12 and their testosterone was below a certain threshold.
However, in protest to the rule trans swimmers are demanding to continue competing against women and not a single swimmer has entered the open category leading to organizers scrapping the category during the upcoming competition.
Source: Sky News
Transgender World Cup swimming category CANCELLED after not a single trans swimmer entered.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) October 4, 2023
After an open category was introduced to help make sports fairer, trans athletes refused to participate in the swimming World Cup and instead have demanded to compete in the women’s… pic.twitter.com/WuKR9ULBuS