World Aquatics’ plans to debut an open category for transgender athletes at the World Cup in Berlin this week have been cancelled after no entries were received.
Swimming’s governing body, which voted last year to ban transgender women from the elite female category, had promised to stage the “pioneering pilot project” to promote its “unwavering commitment to inclusivity, welcoming swimmers of all sex and gender identities”.
However, its intention to hold an “open” category, with 50m and 100m races across all strokes alongside its men’s and women’s competition, has been put on hold.
“Following the close of registration for the open category competitions at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup – Berlin 2023 meet scheduled for 6-8 October, World Aquatics can confirm that no entries have been received for the open category events,” it said.
World Aquatics’ decision to bar transgender women from elite female competitions if they had undergone male puberty came after research showing trans women retained a significant advantage over female swimmers even after reducing their testosterone levels through medication.
Another factor in its vote in June 2022 was the success of the American Lia Thomas, who had been a moderate college swimmer as a male competitor but won an NCAA national college title in the women’s category after transitioning.
Over the past 12 months several other sports bodies, including athletics and cycling, have gone down a similar path. But World Aquatics is the first major Olympic sport to attempt to create a third category of competition separate to men’s and women’s events.
Although its initial pilot project did not get off the ground the governing body said it would be willing to try again, potentially at masters events for swimmers aged over 35.
