FINA faces backlash over new 'gender inclusion policy' for transgender swimmers

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

FINA, swimming’s international governing body, faced backlash over the new "gender inclusion policy" that was approved Sunday setting the standard for transgender athletes’ participation in the sport.

The "gender inclusion policy" will only permit swimmers who transitioned before the age of 12 to compete in women’s events. FINA members voted 71.5% in favor of the new policies. There was also a proposal for a new "open competition policy." The organization said it was setting up "a new working group that will spend the next six months looking at the most effective ways to set up this new category."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

In the 24-page policy released Sunday, FINA spelled out how transgender men and women will be allowed to compete under the new rules.

LGBTQ+ rights groups and other swimmers said the policy would hurt transgender athletes.

"FINA’s new eligibility criteria for transgender athletes and athletes with intersex variations is discriminatory, harmful, unscientific and not in line with the 2021 IOC principles. If we truly want to protect women’s sports, we must include all women," Athlete Ally, an advocacy group for trans people’s inclusion in sports, wrote in a tweet.

Human Rights Campaign Interim President Joni Madison also spoke out about FINA’s decision.

"This sudden and discriminatory decision is a blatant attack on transgender athletes who have worked to comply with longstanding policies that have allowed them to participate for years without issue. This policy is an example of swimming organizations caving to the avalanche of ill-informed, prejudiced attacks targeted at one particular transgender