The head of British Rowing has urged the world governing body of the sport to adopt swimming's example and establish an "open" division for athletes who identify as transgender people, "out of concern that there is a threat to the hard-fought-for progress in women's sport."
Transgender issues have gained significant attention as sports try to strike a balance between diversity and preventing undue advantages. The elite women's competitions transgender athletes can compete in will be limited, and a working group will be formed to create an "open" category, according to a June FINA resolution.
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If an athlete reduces their testosterone to below five nanomoles per liter for 12 months, World Rowing will allow them to compete in the female division. "At British Rowing, we are about to publish an update to our transgender policy which will bring it in line with World Rowing's," at the World Rowing Congress, British Rowing chair Mark Davies made a statement.
"World Rowing is less protective of women's sport than some other international federations such as FINA, which has adopted a policy of having open and women's categories ...
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"Would World Rowing look at its policy out of concern that there is a threat to the hard-fought-for progress in women's sport and consider following FINA's lead?"
Following FINA's decision, which is the harshest by any Olympic sports organisation, several regulatory bodies, including FIFA and World Athletics, are revisiting their policies regarding the participation of transgender athletes.
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