male transitioning to a female must wait a minimum of one year that includes hormone therapy that substantially alters testoserone levels. This has been the attempt to at least try and even the playing field in swimming and other NCAA sports - so there is some thought put into this.

My non-scientific opinion (and as a parent of swimming children, I have followed this issue) is that a year is probably not a long enough time to allow this to take place -- especially when you are dealing with upper echelon athletes who have been training their entire lives as males (and this swimmer was an all conference male swimmer in 2019). So maybe it is a longer time period or maybe in some sports, it simply cannot be allowed. Or maybe you allow competition but the times do not count for final placement -- they can be exhibition swims which swimmers are used to growing up in other contexts.

There is not going to be a perfect answer to every question and some side is going to be more frustrated, but I do tend to agree that what is happening here is not the correct approach ---- and it doesn't mean those who believe this are transphobic nor should people be afraid to talk about it.




[Post edited by fishhoo at 12/11/2021 4:21PM]