UPenn Strips Lia Thomas of NCAA Swim Titles

The University of Pennsylvania has agreed to strip transgender swimmer Lia Thomas of her women's Division I swimming titles and records after a federal investigation found the school violated Title IX by allowing Thomas, a biological male, to compete in women's sports and use female-only facilities. The agreement, reached with the Trump administration under threat of losing federal funding, mandates UPenn restore all affected records and titles to the original female athletes and issue personalized apology letters. UPenn will also adopt biology-based definitions for 'male' and 'female' in adherence to Trump's executive orders and publicly affirm that biological males will no longer be allowed to compete in women's athletics or access women's facilities. The decision is part of a broader effort led by Trump to restrict transgender participation in women's sports. Prominent athletes, including Riley Gaines and Paula Scanlan, have praised the move as a victory for female athletes and women's equality. This case sets a significant precedent in the national debate over trans athletes' eligibility in gender-segregated sports.