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The world governing body's decision comes amid a debate over transgender swimmer Lia Thomas
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Kathryn Riley/Getty Images
The world association Fina has set new rules for transgender athletes in swimming competitions.
Under these rules, they may only enter women's competitions if they have completed their gender reassignment by the age of twelve.
The Fina has also set up a working group to work on a so-called "open" competition category.
"I don't want an athlete to be told he can't compete at the highest level," federation president Al-Musallam said at an extraordinary congress during the World Swimming Championships in Budapest.
"I will set up a working group to set up an open category in our races," Al-Musallam said.
»We will be the first association to do this.«
Under the new rules, trans women would only be allowed to compete in women's competitions if, among other things, they can demonstrate to Fina's satisfaction that they have not passed any part of male puberty past a certain stage (Tanner stage 2) or before the age of 12 experienced, whichever comes later.
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Trans woman Lia Thomas recently in focus
The 24-page policy also includes suggestions for a new category of "open competition."
Fina has set up a new working group that will look at how to most effectively set up this new category over the next six months.
The new guideline will apply from Monday.
The world governing body's decision comes amid a debate over transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.
Born as a male, the 22-year-old US student became the first transgender swimmer to win a collegiate championship title in March.
(Read more here )
At the Fina Congress on Sunday, 71.5 percent of the participants voted in favor of the new set of rules.
The event had previously featured speeches by working groups made up of athletes, scientists, medical professionals and human rights experts.
ngo/dpa/Reuters
