Swimming aims to become the first sport to establish an "open category" in which transgender athletes can compete.
This was announced in Budapest by Husain Al-Musallam, president of the International Federation (Fina).
"I don't want an athlete to be told that she can't compete at the highest level," Al-Musallam said at an extraordinary congress held during the World Swimming Championships.
"I will set up a working group to create an open category during our competitions. We will be the first federation to do so."
