University of Pennsylvania to ban transgender athletes, feds say, ending civil rights case focused on swimmer Lia Thomas
Share this @internewscast.com

The University of Pennsylvania has settled a federal civil rights case by prohibiting transgender women from joining its women’s sports teams, following allegations of rights violations against female athletes.

The U.S. Education Department disclosed this voluntary settlement on Tuesday. The case was centered around Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer who previously competed for the school when she made history as the first openly transgender competitor to secure a Division I championship in 2022.

It’s part of the Trump administration’s broader attempt to remove transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports.

As part of the settlement, Penn has promised to reinstate all swimming records and titles in Division I formerly claimed by Lia Thomas to the original female athletes, according to the Education Department. Additionally, Penn has agreed to issue personalized apology letters to every impacted swimmer.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether Thomas would be stripped of her awards and honors at Penn.

The university must also announce that it “will not allow males to compete in female athletic programs, “and it must adopt “biology-based” definitions of male and female, the department said.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon called it a victory for women and girls.

“The Department commends UPenn for rectifying its past harms against women and girls, and we will continue to fight relentlessly to restore Title IX’s proper application and enforce it to the fullest extent of the law,” McMahon said in a statement.

The Education Department opened its investigation in February and concluded in April that Penn had violated Title IX, a 1972 law forbidding sex discrimination in education. Such findings have almost always been resolved through voluntary agreements. If Penn had fought the finding, the department could have moved to refer the case to the Justice Department or pursued a separate process to cut the school’s federal funding.

In February, the Education Department asked the NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations, or NFSHSA, to restore titles, awards and records it says have been “misappropriated by biological males competing in female categories.”

The most obvious target at the college level was in women’s swimming, where Thomas won the national title in the 500-yard freestyle in 2022.

The NCAA has updated its record books when recruiting and other violations have stripped titles from certain schools, but the organization, like the NFSHSA, has not responded to the federal government’s request. Determining which events had a transgender athlete participating years later would be challenging.

Copyright © 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Michigan synagogue attacker was inspired by Hezbollah, sought to kill as many Jewish people as possible: feds

Tragic Plot Unveiled: Hezbollah-Inspired Attacker’s Chilling Plan Against Michigan Synagogue

Federal authorities revealed on Monday that the individual responsible for crashing his…
NTSB launches 3-day investigative hearing on deadly DC plane crash

Former Air Traffic Controller Reveals Overlooked Warning Signs Before Tragic DC Mid-Air Collision

In the years leading up to the tragic midair collision over the…
DC air traffic controller Emily Hanoka reveals 'warning signs were all there' before midair crash that killed 67

DC Air Traffic Controller Emily Hanoka Unveils Overlooked Warning Signs Before Tragic Midair Collision Killing 67

A former air traffic controller from Washington, D.C., has come forward with…
405 Freeway high-speed tunnel could slash commute time to 18 minutes

Proposed High-Speed Tunnel on 405 Freeway Promises to Reduce Commute to Just 18 Minutes

Los Angeles residents, who are all too familiar with the grueling crawl…
Kid Rock news: Army reviewing after Apache helicopter flyby near Trump supporter's Nashville home

Army Investigates Apache Helicopter Flyby Near Kid Rock’s Nashville Residence

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The U.S. Army has initiated an investigation following an…
Israel foils Hamas terror network run from Turkey

Israel Thwarts Hamas Terror Operation Masterminded from Turkey: A Closer Look at the Security Breakthrough

The Israeli Security Agency, known as Shin Bet, announced on Monday the…
US allows Russian oil tanker to reach Cuba amid blockade as Trump says island ‘has to survive’

US Greenlights Russian Oil Tanker’s Arrival in Cuba Amid Blockade, Trump Advocates for Island’s Survival

The United States is set to permit a Russian oil tanker, laden…
GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman blasts Mamdani 'death tax' proposal

Bruce Blakeman Slams Controversial ‘Death Tax’ Proposal: What It Means for New Yorkers

Republican candidate for governor Bruce Blakeman, alongside the statewide GOP ticket, strongly…
Trump says deal will 'probably' be reached soon with 'new, and more reasonable' Iran regime

Trump Predicts Imminent Agreement with ‘New, More Reasonable’ Iranian Government

On Monday, President Trump suggested that an agreement with Iran is likely…
Terrorist attack on Paris Bank of America branch thwarted before bomb detonated: report

Swift Action Prevents Bombing at Paris Bank of America Branch: Authorities Avert Terrorist Attack

In a dramatic turn of events, Paris police successfully thwarted a terror…
UK's Starmer on Iran: 'Not Our War'

UK’s Starmer Declares: “Iran Conflict Not a British Battle

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has firmly stated that the United Kingdom…
No Kings Rally turns violent and woman dressed as Statue of Liberty is arrested

Violence Erupts at ‘No Kings’ Rally; Woman Dressed as Statue of Liberty Detained

A tumultuous rally dubbed “No Kings” erupted in Downtown Los Angeles on…