USA Swimming unveils policy on elite transgender athletes
metroweekly.comfemale athletes will have to go before a three-person panel of independent medical experts, who will determine whether the swimmer’s prior physical development as a man gives the athlete a competitive advantage over her cisgender female competitors.
The swimmer must also provide bloodwork showing that the concentration of testosterone in her blood has been less than 5 nanomeles per liter continuously for a period of at least 36 months.The policy does not mention anything specifically about transgender male athletes, although presumably a trans male would have to forego hormone therapy to remain on a team designated for women, as Yale swimmer Iszac Henig has.
Ostensibly, the same guidelines for testosterone levels would apply to ensure that the trans male has not been taking hormones to give him a competitive advantage.
For trans males seeking to compete in men’s sports at an elite level, there are no specific guidelines to meet, medical tests to be subjected to, or panel to appear before for a the athlete to argue why they should be able to compete.USA Swimming’s policy will apply to all transgender athletes seeking to compete in the 13-14 age group or older, and those who wish to set American records.
