University in US Prohibits Transgender Athletes Amid Trump Administration Influence | Latest on LGBTQ Affairs

The University of Pennsylvania has decided to erase records set by a trans swimmer and ban transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports as part of a resolution to a civil rights investigation. This action comes after pressure from the administration of former President Donald Trump. The US Department of Education and UPenn announced the agreement on Tuesday, which aims to address the advantages that transgender swimmer Lia Thomas had when competing in women’s events. Thomas, who transitioned from male to female, won a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I title in 2022 and set records in UPenn’s women’s events. This decision has reignited the debate about fairness in sports, with some viewing it as a victory for inclusion and others as an attack on women’s rights. UPenn’s president, Larry Jameson, acknowledged that the NCAA eligibility rules at the time disadvantaged some student-athletes and expressed regret for the anxiety caused by these policies. The NCAA has since changed its eligibility rules to limit participation in women’s sports to female-born athletes. UPenn has removed Thomas from its website’s list of “All-Time School Records” and added a note explaining the eligibility rules in effect during her participation. The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights concluded that UPenn violated Title IX by allowing male athletes to compete in women’s intercollegiate athletics and use women-only facilities. US Education Secretary Linda McMahon praised the agreement, stating that it addresses past harms against women and will continue to enforce Title IX. This decision reflects the ongoing efforts to limit trans people’s participation in sports in the US and globally.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/2/us-2?traffic_source=rss