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
Live updates as 2026 FIFA World Cup draw revealed

Real-Time Coverage: Unveiling the 2026 FIFA World Cup Draw

The upcoming draw will meticulously organize 48 teams into 12 groups, each…
DC pipe bomb suspect makes first court appearance; family yells support

DC Pipe Bomb Suspect Faces Court Amidst Family Support During Dramatic First Appearance

In a dramatic turn of events, Brian Cole Jr., a Virginia resident…
THE ESSEX FILES: Jared Isaacman’s NASA Nomination: The Right Man for a Real Space Race

Jared Isaacman: The Ideal NASA Nominee Leading Essex in the New Era of Space Exploration

Jared Isaacman addressed the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on Wednesday…
OU student’s zero for Christian-based gender critique triggers congressional pushback over academic bias

Congressional Response Intensifies Over OU Student’s Zero for Christian-Based Gender Analysis Citing Academic Bias

EXCLUSIVE TO FOX: U.S. senators are voicing their concerns after a University…
Police recover a swallowed Fabergé pendant after a 6-day wait for it to reappear

Police Successfully Retrieve Stolen Fabergé Pendant After 6-Day Wait for Stomach Passage

In a peculiar twist reminiscent of a spy thriller, New Zealand Police…
Disgraced ex-Sen Bob Menendez banned from holding any public office in New Jersey

New Jersey Slams the Door on Ex-Senator Bob Menendez: Lifetime Ban from Public Office

Former Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey has been permanently banned from…
Russian spies infiltrate UK on cargo ships to scout military sites, find weaknesses

Unveiled: Russian Espionage Operation Targets UK Military via Cargo Ships

Reports have surfaced suggesting that two alleged Russian spies discreetly infiltrated the…
Illinois church Nativity shows baby Jesus zip-tied by ICE agents

Illinois Church Sparks Controversy with Nativity Scene Depicting Baby Jesus Detained by ICE Agents

An Illinois church has stirred controversy by presenting a Nativity display where…
What time is the World Cup draw?

When is the World Cup Draw Scheduled to Occur?

The eagerly anticipated draw marks a crucial step in organizing the schedule…
Supreme Court to Consider Trump's Plan to Curb Birthright Citizenship

Supreme Court to Review Trump’s Proposal on Limiting Birthright Citizenship

The Supreme Court has announced that it will review a legal challenge…
Trump’s Israel-First Policies Accelerate Zionist Gains

Trump’s Pro-Israel Strategies Propel Zionist Advancements: Analyzing the Impact

Donald Trump’s presidency marked a seismic shift in U.S.-Israel relations, far surpassing…
Jacksonville man sentenced to 270 years for producing, distributing child sexual abuse images

Jacksonville Resident Receives 270-Year Sentence for Child Exploitation Crimes

On August 12, 2025, a federal jury convicted Joshua Davis for creating,…