Swimmer Suspended for Refusing Gender Test

A muscular individual who identifies as a woman has been suspended by World Swimming and had his women’s records revoked after he declined to take a gender verification test mandated by the organization’s transgender participation rules.

The swimmer, Ana Caldas, 47, argued against the necessity of the test. He believes it is “not medically necessary.” Caldas stated, “Chromosome testing is an invasive and expensive procedure. My insurance won’t cover such a test because it’s not medically necessary.”

He also pointed out that “no U.S. state requires genetic testing for recreational sporting events like this,” noting that even U.S. Masters Swimming, the governing body for adult recreational swimming, doesn’t enforce such tests.

Despite this, World Swimming maintains that a gender verification test is essential for competition eligibility. Consequently, Caldas received a five-year suspension and lost his previous women’s record.

Caldas expressed acceptance of the consequences, saying, “I’m willing to pay that price for myself and for all women who do not want to undergo invasive testing.”

Riley Gaines, an advocate for women’s sports, voiced her disbelief that someone with such an evident muscular build could compete against women.

Some have observed that Caldas’s physique seems different following the transition, indicating he no longer appears as muscular as before.

The Independent Council for Women’s Sports (ICONS) has also spoken out against Caldas competing as a woman. They sent a letter to the U.S. Masters Swimming Committee, asserting that his participation breaches their fair play policy. ICONS requested that Caldas confirm compliance with World Swimming’s regulations on transgender participation and disclose his testosterone levels.

Caldas previously won five events in the 45-49 age category at the U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships earlier this year in San Antonio, Texas.