In news– The International Swimming Federation (FINA) has barred participation of transgenders in the women’s category recently.
Key updates-
- FINA is thinking of introducing an ‘Open’ category to include trans-women.
- FINA has voted against allowing transgender athletes to participate in female competitions – the exception being that the transgender athlete must have completed their transition before the age of 12.
- The ruling only applies to elite competitions run by FINA.
- A Working Group was being set up to create an ‘open category’ in some FINA competitions.
- The creation of an open category will mean that everybody has the opportunity to compete at an elite level.
About FINA-
- FINA (French: Fédération internationale de natation), is the international federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for administering international competitions in water sports.
- FINA was founded on 19 July 1908 in the Manchester Hotel in London, UK at the end of the 1908 Summer Olympics by the Belgian, British, Danish, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian and Swedish Swimming Federations.
- It is one of several international federations which administer a given sport or discipline for both the IOC and the international community.
- It is based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
- FINA currently oversees competition in six aquatics sports: swimming, diving, high diving, artistic swimming, water polo, and open water swimming.
- FINA also oversees “Masters” competition (for adults) in its disciplines.
Source: The Indian Express
