WASHINGTON (TND) – According to The Telegraph, transgender swimmer Lia Thomas is quietly battling to lift a ban that forbids women of color from competing against biological ones. This fight may allow her to take part in the 2024 Paris Olympic trials.
World Aquatics, the sport’s governing body, established regulations in June 2022 prohibiting transgender women from competing against biological females who have undergone “any component of male puberty.” These individuals were originally allowed to compete as long as they reduced their hormone levels.
Just days before World Aquatics announced its policy, Thomas said, “I’ve been itching to swim at Olympic trials for a very long time, and I’d like to see that through.”
After initially competing on the men’s team, the swimmer gained notoriety in 2021 when she joined the University of Pennsylvania women’s swimming team. Thomas later rose to the position of NCAA champion.
Thomas has not entered any tournaments since the World Aquatics decision.
Thomas, 24, reportedly hired Canadian law organization Tyr to challenge the decision at the Swiss Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn the ban after becoming the first openly transgender person to win an NCAA championship. However, given the circumstances, it is unlikely that the case will be heard in time for her to be accepted into the 2024 Olympic trials.
The National Desk (TND) asked for comment on Friday, but World Aquatics did not respond right away. Brent Nowicki, the team’s executive director, told The Telegraph that its policy was developed using “rigorous” standards.
According to Nowicki, “The World Aquatics policy on gender inclusion was rigorously developed on the basis of advice from leading medical and legal experts, and in careful consultation with athletes,” and was adopted by the organization in June 2022. “World Aquatics remains absolutely committed to protecting women’s sport and remains confident that its gender inclusion policy represents a good approach.”
In women’s sports, allowing trans athletes to compete based on gender identity is still a hotly debated issue. A 16-year-old transgender woman was offered a spot on the University of Washington’s women’s tennis team, but the university rescinded the offer in December, sparking controversy.
