In June 2024, transgender swimmer Lia Thomas lost a legal battle against World Aquatics’ policy that bars athletes who have undergone any part of male puberty from competing in women’s elite swimming events. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed her appeal, stating that Thomas lacked the standing to challenge the policy as she was no longer a member of USA Swimming and therefore not eligible to compete in World Aquatics competitions .U.S. News+13People.com+13BBC News+13France 24+7NationalWorld+7Sky News+7
Following this decision, Paula Scanlan, a former teammate of Thomas at the University of Pennsylvania, publicly demanded an apology for being “forced to undress” with Thomas during their time on the swim team. Scanlan, who has spoken about her discomfort and trauma stemming from these experiences, expressed her concerns on social media, highlighting the challenges faced by female athletes in such situations .New York Post+1Inspirational Stories+1
Thomas, who began hormone replacement therapy in 2019 and transitioned to the women’s team in 2021, made headlines in 2022 by becoming the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship in the women’s 500-yard freestyle. Her participation sparked widespread debate over the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports, with supporters advocating for inclusivity and critics raising concerns about fairness and competitive advantage .Mail Online+3Wikipedia+3The Guardian+3
In response to the controversy, World Aquatics introduced an “open” category for transgender athletes. However, this category faced challenges, including a lack of participants, leading to its cancellation at the Berlin World Cup in October 2023 .New York Post+16People.com+16Inspirational Stories+16The Guardian
The debate surrounding transgender athletes in sports continues to be a complex and evolving issue, balancing the principles of inclusion with concerns about fairness and competitive equity.
