The American surfer had condemned the World Surfing League’s (WSL) new policy which allows transgender females to have a competition in the women’s category.
Bethany Hamilton, an American professional surfer, writer, and motivational speaker who had survived a shark bite in 2003 leaving her left arm bitten off had taken to her official Instagram page to speak on behalf of those who share her perspective against the new WSL policy.
The World Surfing League (WSL) announced on Monday, 6th February that it has adopted the International Surfing Association Policy (ISA) on allowing transgenders to choose their surfing category. However, the condition that enables a surfer to compete in the women’s category is attached to the policy of the ISA, which says that a transgender woman can only take part in the women’s division if their testosterone level is below five nanomoles per liter for twelve months.
The policy stated: “The WSL is working to balance equity and fairness, and we will continue to evaluate the policy in the months and years ahead as more research, information, and feedback are available.”
Bethany Hamilton in an online video questioned the potency of the rule in other sports and further expressed that the policy is subjected to the views and perspectives of athletes before the introduction.
“Is a hormone level an honest and accurate depiction that someone indeed is a male or female? Is it as simple as this?” she questioned in her video. “Who is pushing for this huge change? Does this better the sport of surfing? Is this better for women in surfing? If so, how? “How did whoever decided these hormone rules conclude that 12 months of testing testosterone make it a fair and legal switch?” She further pushed out a suggestion that a competition that allows fair opportunity to be introduced, she said; “can have a fair opportunity to showcase their passion and talent.”
“It’s really hard to imagine what the future of women’s surfing will be like in 15 to 20 years down the road if we move forward allowing this major change.
“I personally won’t be competing in or supporting the World Surf League if this rule remains.” Bethany concluded.
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