In a significant triumph for women’s sports, Lia Thomas, the controversial transgender swimmer who gained national attention in 2022 for winning NCAA women’s swimming titles, has lost a critical lawsuit against World Aquatics, the international governing body for swimming competitions. This decision bars Thomas from competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Thomas’ lawsuit aimed to overturn World Aquatics’ rules on transgender athletes, which were implemented in response to the 2022 controversy surrounding Thomas’ participation in women’s swimming events. The regulations impose stringent restrictions on testosterone levels and an outright ban on male-to-female transgender athletes who have undergone male puberty from competing in women’s events. These rules effectively disqualify Thomas from participating in future international competitions, including the Olympics.
The specific rule affecting Thomas, introduced in the spring of 2023, states: “In regard to transgender athletes, the Council has agreed to exclude male-to-female transgender athletes who have been through male puberty from female World Rankings competition from 31 March 2023.”
World Aquatics justified the regulation by emphasizing the importance of fairness and the integrity of female competitions. The organization acknowledged the lack of athletics-specific evidence on the impact of transgender athletes but prioritized the fairness of women’s sports over inclusion.
Thomas argued that these rules violated both the Olympics charter and the constitution of World Aquatics, seeking to have them declared “invalid and unlawful.” However, the court of arbitration for sport dismissed Thomas’ complaint, stating that Thomas lacked the standing to challenge the rules as a non-member of US swimming. The court’s 24-page decision concluded that Thomas was “simply not entitled to engage with eligibility to compete in WA competitions.”
World Aquatics celebrated the ruling as a significant step toward protecting women’s sports. The organization reiterated its commitment to fostering an environment that promotes fairness, respect, and equal opportunities for athletes of all genders.
Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics, expressed his support for the decision when it was initially made, stating, “Decisions are always difficult when they involve conflicting needs and rights between different groups, but we continue to take the view that we must maintain fairness for female athletes above all other considerations. We will be guided in this by the science around physical performance and male advantage, which will inevitably develop over the coming years. As more evidence becomes available, we will review our position, but we believe the integrity of the female category in athletics is paramount.”
Riley Gaines, a prominent women’s sports activist, applauded the ruling. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), she declared, “Great news! Lia Thomas won’t be able to compete in the women’s category at the Olympics or any other elite competition. He has just lost his legal battle in Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling. This is a victory for women and girls everywhere.”
This ruling underscores the growing recognition of the need to protect the integrity of women’s sports. As debates over transgender athletes’ participation continue, this decision marks a crucial victory for advocates of fairness and equality in female athletics.
