Authored by Aaron Gifford via The Epoch Times,
The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) has reached an agreement with the Department of Education to strip a transgender swimmer of past titles and awards, including an NCAA Division I crown won in the women’s category in 2022. The athlete, Lia Thomas, who transitioned from competing on the men’s team from 2017–2020 to the women’s team, has been at the center of a heated debate regarding male participation in women’s sports.
The resolution agreement signed by UPenn administrators not only requires the removal of Thomas’s records and championship medals but also mandates that the school prohibit males from competing in female athletic programs and using women’s facilities such as bathrooms or locker rooms.
A personal, written apology must be issued to every female swimmer who competed against Thomas. This move has been hailed as a victory for women’s rights by Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who emphasized the importance of upholding Title IX regulations that protect women’s sports.
President Donald Trump’s executive order earlier this year, which banned males from participating in women’s sports, was a key factor in the decision. In response to the order, the NCAA also implemented policies prohibiting male athletes from competing in women’s sports.
Former swimmers, such as Riley Gaines and Paula Scanlan, who have experienced firsthand the challenges of competing against transgender athletes, have been vocal advocates for maintaining the integrity of women’s sports. Gaines commended the administration for its commitment to women’s equality.
UPenn President J. Larry Jameson acknowledged the agreement and emphasized the university’s dedication to fostering an inclusive and welcoming community while upholding Title IX obligations.
“Penn remains committed to fostering a community that is welcoming, inclusive, and open to all students, faculty, and staff,” Jameson stated in a press release.
“This administration does not just pay lip service to women’s equality: it vigorously insists on that equality being upheld.”
“We have now brought to a close an investigation that, if unresolved, could have had significant and lasting implications for the University of Pennsylvania.”
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