Trans category at swimming World Cup cancelled after zero response

SHAH ALAM - World Aquatics' move to introduce an open category for transgender athletes at this week's World Cup in Berlin has been called off as no entries were received.

The Gurdian, in its report quoting the organisation, which regulates international swimming competitions and qualifiers, voted last year to ban transgender women athletes from female categories.

Instead, it pledged to stage the “pioneering pilot project” to promote its “unwavering commitment to inclusivity, welcoming swimmers of all sexes and gender identities”.

With only days remaining until the start of the 2023 Swimming World Cup, this move, however, came to a halt after World Aquatics confirmed that their controversial “open category”, the only way for transgender and some intersex athletes to compete, would be cancelled because nobody applied for it.

“World Aquatics can confirm that no entries have been received for the Open category events.

“Even if there is no current demand at the elite level, the working group is planning to look at the possibility of including open category races at Masters events in the future," the federation was quoted as saying.

Masters events are generally restricted to athletes 25 years of age and older.

The Berlin meet, one of three World Cup events this year, will take place from October 6 to 8. They are all qualifying events for the World Aquatics Championships in Doha next year and the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The World Aquatics' ruling to exclude transgender women who have experienced male puberty from high-level female competitions was influenced by research indicating that even after undergoing testosterone-suppressing medication, trans women still maintain a notable competitive edge over female swimmers.

Another contributing factor to its decision was the achievement of American Lia Thomas in June 2022, whereby Thomas, previously a moderately performing male college swimmer, transitioned and went on to secure an NCAA national college title in the women's category.

Meanwhile, the New York Daily News reported plans to set up a trans-inclusive category in response to a 2022 rule restricting the participation of trans athletes in competitions.

The rule, which permits only swimmers who transitioned before age 12 to compete in women’s events, was first implemented during the 2022 World Championship in Budapest, Hungary.

Some critics argue there is not enough detailed research in the area or find it “far-fetched” to assert that it’s necessary to ban trans women to protect cisgender women, the report said.

Earlier this year, the head of World Aquatics' Husain Al-Musallam announced plans “for the first trial of an open category,” which was supposed to debut with 50-metre and 100-metre races in Berlin.

On Tuesday, World Aquatics said it would continue to work on trans-inclusive categories “even if there is no current demand at the elite level.” Meanwhile, American Riley Gaines, one of the most decorated athletes in the University of Kentucky swimming programme’s history, is a 12-time All-American swimmer and one of America's staunchest voices against allowing biological males to compete against women, saying their greater strength and stamina render races unfair and even pointless.

Gaines has been opposing the idea of Thomas competing in the women's division.

"I think even using the term trans woman is giving Thomas some of our language as women.

"I think trans women are a subset of men. I do not believe trans women are women," she was quoted as saying.

In 2022, Gaines witnessed Thomas, a swimmer who was a male at birth but identifies as female, claim victory in the 500-yard freestyle NCAA women's championship.

Thomas subsequently shared the fifth position with Gaines in the 200-yard freestyle event.

During the championships, the NCAA awarded Thomas the fifth-place trophy on the spot, while Gaines was informed that her trophy would be sent to her later.

She was advised that "Thomas would temporarily hold the trophy for a photo opportunity."