Why transgender Lia Thomas will be stripped of swimming titles

The University of Pennsylvania has committed to stripping swimming titles from transgender swimmer Lia Thomas after a Trump-era Department of Education directive.

This comes after a federal civil rights inquiry that concluded the university had defied Title IX protections by permitting Thomas, who identifies as a woman, to compete in sports for women and access women’s facilities.

The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights decided that the conduct of UPenn was discriminatory against female athletes who were biologically female. The university has reached an agreement to formalize an apology to all of the female swimmers and re-define sex categories in their policies on a biological basis.

It was welcomed warmly by Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who called it a victory for women’s athletics. “Today’s decision is just another example of the Trump effect happening,” she said. “President Trump’s leadership ensures that girls and women are restored their right to fair competition.”.

According to the decision, UPenn is formally mandated to institute restrictions that prevent biological men from participating in women’s events or entering women’s locker rooms. The decision has been embraced by women competitors and human rights campaigners.

Paula Scanlan, a former UPenn swimmer who previously raced against Thomas, also embraced the reversal. “I am thankful to the Trump administration for bringing fairness back. My alma mater has finally done the right thing,” she further stated.

University of Kentucky former swimmer and vocal anti-trans in women’s sport critic, Riley Gaines, concurred. “This is a landmark day. Institutions can no longer stifle women’s rights. This ruling gives hope to every girl who’s battling for dignity and fairness in sport.”.

The transfer is one of the most prominent transfers yet on the contentious issue of whether or not transgender athletes should be allowed in sport, and it is a growing vocal backlash against earlier NCAA and institutional policy allowing for self-identification in sex-based competition.

No official statement has yet been issued by UPenn on the deal.