Lia Thomas, the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA championship at the Division I level, has lost her challenge to a policy that would prevent her from competing in women’s races at elite competitions. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) found that, for now, Thomas is not eligible to compete in elite events through World Aquatics or USA Swimming. The CAS panel determined that Thomas does not have standing to appeal the policy created by World Aquatics because it does not yet apply to her. She is only allowed to compete in USA Swimming events that are not considered elite.
Thomas had argued that World Aquatics’ gender inclusion policy is discriminatory. The policy proposed creating “open category” races for transgender competitors in addition to categories for men and women. However, the CAS panel found that this policy did not apply to Thomas at this time.
World Aquatics welcomed the CAS decision and reaffirmed its commitment to inclusivity in aquatic sports. According to World Aquatics, their policies and practices are continuously evaluated to align with these core values. They stated that their gender inclusion policy represents a fair approach and they are dedicated to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to uphold the principles of inclusivity.
Thomas’ attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the CAS decision. Despite this setback, Thomas remains committed to advocating for transgender athletes and promoting fairness and respect in sports.
