Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier urged swimming masters on Tuesday to amend their gender participation policies, specifically those allowing biological males to compete with women or access women’s locker rooms.
During a press conference, Uthmeier indicated that failure to comply could result in legal action. He noted that the US Masters Swimming Board of Directors updated its participation guidelines last month.
The new guidelines state that members can compete in categories aligned with their gender identity, but only swimmers competing under their assigned gender at birth or meeting specific eligibility requirements will receive recognition in the program.
Essentially, female members are recognized in women’s categories, irrespective of their gender identity. Additionally, individuals who identify as female yet were assigned a male designation at birth must substantiate their claims to the satisfaction of US Masters Swimming.
Uthmeier expressed discontent with the current direction of the policies, declaring, “This is not acceptable and it doesn’t fly under Florida law.” He emphasized his commitment to protecting women and girls in sports, stating, “We will always fight for the right thing.” It seems, quite strangely, that these debates are still ongoing in the U.S.
US Masters Swimming came under scrutiny earlier this year when transgender athletes won several gold medals in women’s events. Longtime swimmer Wendy Endal from Louisiana mentioned she requested a review of eligibility after noticing a transgender competitor among her peers.
This issue also raised concerns for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who began an investigation to determine if the organization’s policies might be violating state consumer protection laws.
