On Saturday, BizPacReview posted an article about the women’s races at the U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championship in Texas. Ana Caldas, age 47, won five races in the 45-49 year-old category, including the 100-yard individual medley, the 50- and 100-yard breaststroke, and the freestyle. Ana Caldas was born a man.
The article reports:
“Ana Caldas, a man pretending to be a woman, recently won ALL FIVE RACES he entered in the WOMEN’S division for the US Masters Swimming Spring National Championship in TX. INSANITY,” the account wrote.
U.S. Masters Swimming also acknowledged the backlash in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“USMS is aware of allegations regarding the eligibility of a swimmer who competed at our Spring National Championship. We have received an eligibility review request and will follow our formal process to make a determination,” their statement read. “USMS exists to empower adults to improve their lives through swimming. The health and fitness benefits of swimming are the primary focus of that mission, but we also strive to create a community that values fairness, competition, and inclusion. In that spirit, USMS has had a longstanding policy on transgender swimmers that was created, and periodically reviewed and updated, by relevant member committees with input from subject matter experts. The policy includes procedures to address questions of eligibility.”
The article notes:
The organization’s eligibility requirements would allow a transgender athlete to participate in the event, provided they follow some stipulations including a “hormonal therapy appropriate for the female gender has been administered continuously and uninterrupted in a verifiable manner for a sufficient length of time, no less than one year, to minimize gender-related advantages in sport competitions” as well as proof of low testosterone levels.
However, this could run into some trouble as in 2023, Texas passed the Save Women’s Sports Act which bars biological male athletes from competing in women’s sports, requiring them to compete as the gender listed on their birth certificate. It is also unlawful to change information on birth certificates, such as switching genders, unless it is to correct a clerical error.
It’s not news that there are some basic biological differences between men and women that would give men an advantage in women’s sports. It’s a shame those in charge are not always willing to admit this.