Trans girls/biological males competing against females

There should be NO men in women's sports.  NOT the World Aquatics rules.  NOT before or after or during puberty.  Born male, always male.  Same for female.  No drugs, surgery, or fantasy or wishful thinking changes that.  Putting anyone on dangerous drugs for the rest of their life is irresponsible.  And USADA and everyone looking at banned substances needs to expand the definition of performance enhancement to include drug therapy designed to suppress puberty or enhance the development of opposite sex characteristics as a form of drug cheating when used to compete in the opposite sex category. 

I see Angie’s position as pro fairness, I see your position as simply anti-trans and I cannot agree with it.

For any effort to categorize people, you have to consider both what traits should define the categories and how to police the boundaries. I disagree that the best answers to either of those issues are obvious for sex categorization within USMS competition. Every barrier we put up to participation will discourage people from volunteering to organize events and from participating in them, not least because those barriers will increase costs and hassles for everyone.

It's long, but this article from December 2023 describes a lot of the science (as much as science currently knows) and the trade-offs. I encourage anyone who cares about women in sports to read it.

Who Gets to Play in Women’s Leagues_ _ The New Yorker.pdf

That is an amazing article. Thank you for posting.

So here are a few questions that I have if we were to adopt a "women's only" and an "open" category.  First, will we require proof of XX chromosomes and testosterone levels to be in the women's category?  The last Olympics showed us that just because someone is declared female at birth and does nothing to change their gender, they may still be found to not have XX chromosomes or typical testosterone levels.  In a case like that, shouldn't they also be in the open category, instead of women?  Then if the women's only catagory requires proof, then those not wishing to prove that we are women, could also swim in the open category?  This could actually be an advantage to those of us that do not place in the women's events at nationals and larger meets.  Speaking for myself, I would prefer to swim in an open category, rather than women's if given a choice.  

So how is it handled if someone is declared female at birth but then is found to not have XX chromosomes or high testosterone levels?  Do they get excluded or does it revert to the declared at birth gender?

USMS is monitoring media reports, comments on these forums, and responding to member inquiries on the allegations regarding the eligibility of one of our members. We felt it might be helpful to provide updates here to ensure those on this thread are aware of the steps we are taking.

We have also created a 2025 Spring Nationals Eligibility Review Updates thread. All future updates from USMS will be posted here.

Over the past week, USMS has received several formal eligibility review requests. In keeping with our published policy, the eligibility review panel was convened late last week to gather and assess the facts. Those with standing who have requested an eligibility review have been notified and will receive updates directly from the panel as appropriate. The panel will make a final determination based on the evidence presented. Speculation or commentary outside the review will not be part of the decision.

Many members have contacted us with questions and suggestions about our transgender eligibility policy. After the eligibility review is complete, USMS leadership and relevant committees will take time to reflect on member input and other details that emerge from the process to determine whether updates to the policy are appropriate and in line with USMS’s mission and values.

We ask for your patience as this process continues, and we thank you for being part of a community that values thoughtful and respectful dialogue, integrity, and the shared love of swimming.

Yikes, this is what happens when one clicks a link out of idle curiosity.

What is truly at stake here? Does someone else’s performance change your time? Does the color of a medal really change your self-worth?

”Level playing field” is a total myth. Swim against the clock using competition to spur your efforts. Enjoy a beer together after. That’s masters at its best.

Last time I checked, masters swimming is a voluntary organized sport. How many masters swimmers here are on a USMS athletic scholarship, heading to the olympics, or individually sponsored by corporations like TYR, Speedo, Nike? USMS is open to EVERYONE so if you have a problem swimming with the less than .0005%  USMS transgender identified population,  may I highly suggest you find an organization that celebrates narrow minded beliefs. Otherwise, do something useful and volunteer. USMS has a Diversity & Inclusion Committee,  become part of the solution!

U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS) has built a community that celebrates swimming for life—welcoming people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. We’re proud to be part of that. But as the sport evolves, so too must our policies.

In 2022, World Aquatics (formerly FINA) introduced a balanced transgender policy: it preserves fairness in women’s competition by limiting eligibility to athletes who transitioned before male puberty, while committing to the creation of an “open category” where all athletes—including transgender and non-binary swimmers—can compete at the elite level. (FINA Inclusion Policy)