Female Swimmer Banned for Five Years After Refusing Gender Verification Test, Decides to Leave the Sport

Swimming veteran Hannah Caldas has decided to retire from the sport after receiving a five-year ban for refusing to undergo a gender-verification test.

World Aquatics has suspended Caldas until 2030 and has nullified her results from the past three years following her refusal to take an “invasive” and “costly” genetic test to establish her biological sex.

Caldas has officially retired from competitive swimming She nearly represented Portugal at the London 2012 OlympicsCredit: X / Facebook

Caldas, 48, won her age category in the women's 100m at the World Aquatics Masters Championships last year.

Additionally, she claimed the top prize in all five individual events she participated in at the US Masters Swimming (USMS) Spring National Championship.

Caldas previously competed in the men's division in USMS events from 2002 to 2004.

Earlier this year, a USMS review concluded that Caldas had provided documents proving she was assigned female at birth and identifies as female.

However, she declined to undergo the genetic test mandated by World Aquatics.

Caldas stated: “Chromosomal tests are invasive and expensive procedures. My insurance does not cover such a test as it is not medically necessary.

“No US state mandates genetic tests for recreational sports events like these. Even US Masters Swimming, the national governing body for recreational adult swimming in the US, does not require this for any of its events.”

Caldas missed the opportunity to represent by just three-tenths of a second.

She has also achieved success in various sports, winning multiple global CrossFit events and equaling the women's indoor 500m rowing world record.

Now, regarding swimming, Caldas believes it is time to close this chapter.

She remarked: “I understand and accept the consequences of not complying with a World Aquatics investigation.

“However, if a five-year suspension is the cost I must bear to safeguard my most personal medical information, then I am willing to pay that price – for myself and for every other woman who does not wish to undergo highly invasive medical testing just to compete in an older-adult competition.

“I have participated in sanctioned events for over 30 years, and I am ready to let it all go.

“My life and privacy have been sufficiently invaded. It is time to prioritize my health and personal safety.”

Caldas is a joint world record holder in the women’s indoor 500m rowingCredit: World Rowing She is also a successful CrossFit competitorCredit: CrossFit