(CNSNews.com) -- Women's professional surfing champion Bethany Hamilton, the Soul Surfer author who lost her left arm to a shark attack, announced on Saturday that she will not be competing in the World Surf League now that it is allowing "transgender women" (biological males) to compete against real women.
"I personally won't be competing in or supporting the World Surf League if this rule remains," Hamilton said on Feb. 4. "This concerns me as a professional athlete that has been competing in the World Surf League events for the last 15-plus years."
"And I feel that I must speak up and stand up for those in a position that may feel that they cannot say something about this," she added.
On Feb. 3, the World Surf League said it was adopting the transgender policy of the International Surfing Association. The ISA policy "requires athletes who are assigned male at birth to maintain a testosterone level less than 5 nmol/L (nanomoles per liter) continuously for the previous 12 months to be eligible to compete in a women’s event," reported The Inertia, a news outlet about surfing and the outdoors.
“I think many of the girls currently on tour are not in support with this new rule,” Hamilton said on Instagram, where she has 2.1 million followers. “And they fear of being ostracized if they speak up.”
“How is this rule playing out in other sports like swimming, running, MMA?" she asked. "Have any of the current surfers in the World Surf League been asked what their thoughts and opinions are on this new rule before it was passed or announced? Should there be a conversation with the 17 women and all of the men on tour prior to a rule change such as this?”
“Is a hormone level an honest and accurate depiction that someone indeed is a male or female? Is it as simple as this?” Hamilton added. “Is this better for the women in surfing? If so, how?”
“The best solution would be to create a different division so that all can have a fair opportunity to showcase their passion and talent,” said Hamilton. “And I think 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."
"But we are seeing glimpses of male-bodied dominance in women’s sports like running, swimming, and others," she added.
Hamilton, 32, is married and has three children. She has been competing in surfing contests since she was eight years old.
Hamilton is a Christian and she attributes her success and determination to her Christian faith.
In addition to Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board, Hamilton is the author of Be Unstoppable: The Art of Never Giving Up.