UPenn Settles Title IX Violations, Restricts Trans Athletes, Restores Women's Records

The University of Pennsylvania has reached an agreement with the Trump administration to adopt biology-based definitions of gender in compliance with Title IX, following an investigation into violations related to transgender athlete Lia Thomas competing on the women's swim team. As part of the agreement, UPenn will erase records and titles won by Thomas during the 2021-2022 season, restore those recognitions to female athletes, and issue personalized apology letters to affected women swimmers. The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights determined that UPenn violated Title IX by allowing trans-identified males to compete in women's sports and use female locker rooms. The school has updated its athletics policies to prohibit men from competing on women's teams and to ensure sex-segregated facilities are strictly maintained. Conservative swimmer Riley Gaines, impacted by the policy, has publicly responded to the changes and criticism from media figures, emphasizing the significance of the NCAA and UPenn aligning with President Trump's directives to protect women's sports. These developments represent a major victory for advocates prioritizing the protection of female athletes' rights under current federal administration guidelines.