A transgender swimmer named Hugo “Ana Caldas,” who calls himself ‘Hannah,’ has been banned from all competitive swimming events for five years by World Aquatics. This suspension lasts until October 2030 and follows the male athlete’s refusal to undergo gender verification testing, specifically chromosome testing, required as part of an official investigation into her eligibility to compete in women’s categories. Along with the ban, all his competition results from June 2022 to October 2024 have been annulled.
Caldas, who is 47 years old and was born male, won multiple women’s swimming titles during this time, including dominating events at the US Masters Swimming competitions this year. He declined the testing, citing medical privacy and the invasiveness and cost of chromosome testing. Despite his refusal, the global governing body ruled against his eligibility under their current gender eligibility policies, which restrict transgender women from competing in women’s categories unless they transitioned before an early stage of puberty.
“Chromosomal tests are invasive and expensive procedures,” said Caldas, who transitioned from male to female, according to the Daily Mail.
Key Takeaways
- Hugo ‘Ana Caldas’ received a five-year ban from competitive swimming due to refusal to undergo gender verification tests.
- The ban, effective until October 2030, nullifies all competition results from June 2022 to October 2024.
- Caldas, 47, cited medical privacy as the reason for declining the chromosome testing required for eligibility in women’s events.
- The case raises ongoing debate about fairness in women’s sports and transgender athlete participation, attracting attention from advocacy groups and political figures.
- Caldas has accepted the suspension and plans to retire from competitive swimming, prioritizing personal privacy.
The case has generated significant controversy around fairness in women’s sports and transgender athlete participation, drawing attention from advocacy groups, other competitors, and political figures, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has initiated a lawsuit against U.S. Masters Swimming for allegedly violating fair play policies by allowing biological males to compete in women’s categories. The decision has been welcomed by some female competitors who felt they had been unfairly displaced.
Caldas has stated that he accepts the suspension as the cost of protecting his medical privacy and has decided to retire from competitive swimming following the ban.
