University of Pennsylvania Adjusts Records Following Lia Thomas Participation
The University of Pennsylvania has made significant changes to its swimming records, in response to concerns about fairness in women’s sports. These adjustments came as part of a resolution in a federal civil rights case centered on transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, who notably competed for Penn and made headlines with her achievements.
In a move to address grievances from female athletes, the U.S. Education Department and UPenn reached a voluntary agreement. This decision follows an investigation initiated during the Trump administration, which criticized the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports, pointing to perceived disadvantages for female competitors.
As part of the agreement, Penn has agreed to reinstate individual Division I records to female athletes who were surpassed by Thomas and will issue personal apology letters to those affected. By Tuesday, the Penn athletics website had updated its records, attributing top times in Thomas’ events to other athletes, while acknowledging the rules at the time allowed Thomas’ participation.
Penn President J. Larry Jameson commented, “While Penn’s policies during the 2021-2022 swim season were in accordance with NCAA eligibility rules at the time, we acknowledge that some student-athletes were disadvantaged by these rules.” He added that the university is committed to maintaining a respectful environment for all students while complying with federal and NCAA regulations.
Furthermore, Penn has agreed to adopt “biology-based” definitions of male and female for athletic participation, ensuring males will not compete in female sports programs, as mandated by the settlement.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon praised the agreement, describing it as a triumph for women and girls, asserting that the Department remains dedicated to restoring Title IX’s intended protections.
Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines expressed her surprise and support for the resolution via social media, citing the contentious nature of the issue, especially after sharing competitive spaces with Thomas.
The Education Department’s investigation, which concluded in April, indicated that Penn breached Title IX, a law prohibiting sex discrimination in education. Had Penn contested the finding, it could have faced consequences such as referral to the Justice Department or threats to its federal funding.
Efforts to address similar cases are ongoing, with the Education Department urging the NCAA and other associations to restore records perceived as inappropriately awarded to transgender athletes. However, responses from these organizations remain limited, leaving questions about future actions and criteria for such decisions.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
