Lia Thomas's Records Erased: Penn Caves to Trump-Era Transgender Sports Ban

2025-07-02 06:00:43.955

The University of Pennsylvania will bar transgender athletes from competing in women's sports and erase swimmer Lia Thomas's records, complying with a federal government agreement. This settlement stems from the Trump administration's broader restrictions on transgender individuals, including a nationwide effort to ban transgender athletes from women's sports. Thomas, a transgender woman and UPenn graduate, won the 2022 NCAA championship in the women's 500-yard freestyle. Penn's President, J. Larry Jameson, stated that the university has always followed Title IX and NCAA guidelines, but will now adhere to new, more restrictive rules. Thomas's records have been removed from UPenn's all-time records, with a note acknowledging her achievements under previous eligibility rules. The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights cited a Title IX violation for allowing males to compete in women's sports and use women-only facilities. Penn agreed to adopt biology-based definitions of 'male' and 'female' and apologize to female athletes who competed against Thomas. The agreement follows Trump's executive order, "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports," aiming to ban transgender women from women's sports. While research on the athletic advantage of transgender women is limited and inconclusive, the Trump administration's position emphasizes preserving women's sports for women. Thomas's case highlights the ongoing debate on transgender participation in sports, balancing inclusion and fair play. She previously stated that she is a woman and belongs on the women's team. Three former UPenn swimmers sued the school for allowing Thomas to compete, and Thomas has been barred from international competitions by World Aquatics rules. The Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld this ruling, making her ineligible for major events like the 2024 Olympics.