The University of Pennsylvania has agreed to ban trans athletes from competing in women’s sports and strip former swimmer Leah Thomas of the record as part of an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education.
Penn signed a resolution agreement on Tuesday, July 1st to comply with Title IX. This was because they were investigating the case of Thomas, the university became the first openly trans athlete to win the NCAA Division I title.
Under the contract, Penn recovers the swimming record and title of a female athlete broken by Thomas. The university also must not allow trans athletes to participate in women’s athletic programs and send personal apology letters to affected swimmers.
Improved rules: How has the NCAA’s Transgender Athlete Policy been changed?
Leah Thomas Records
Thomas competed for a year as a female Penn swimmer after three seasons with the men’s team.
She holds pen women’s swimming records with 100 free (47.37), 200 free (1:41.93), 500 free (4:33.24), 1,000 free (9:35.96), and 1,650 free (15:59.71).
Thomas won the NCAA title at the 2022 women’s 500-yard freestyle event. She also finished fifth in the women’s 200-yard freestyle and eighth in the 100-yard freestyle that year.
The NCAA did not respond to requests for comment following the announcement of Penn Resoltion.
Response to Penn’s decisions regarding transgender athletes
The decision comes as the Trump administration focuses on banning girls’ sports where transgender athletes compete. In May, President Donald Trump had promised a “massive fine” in California after transgender athletes were allowed to compete and won two medals at the Athletics State Championships.
“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, Upenn has apologised for past Title IX violations and agreed to ensure that women’s sports are protected at the university for the generation of future female athletes,” US Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement.
DOE’s Civil Rights Bureau opened an investigation into Penn’s Title IX on February 6th – a month to President Trump surrounding Thomas. Title IX is a law passed in 1972 and prohibits sex discrimination at any academic institution that receives federal funding.
On April 28, the office concluded whether the university violated Title IX and issued a proposal for a resolution agreement, referring the case to the Department of Justice, or launching another process of cutting school federal funds. In March, the White House cut Penn’s federal funds by $175 million related to the issue.
The university said in a statement it would comply with Executive Order 14168, defend women from gender ideological extremism and restore biological truth to the federal government. The president of J. Larry Jameson University said it was a “complex issue” and was pleased to reach an agreement to investigate.
“Our commitment to ensuring an environment of respect and welcoming for all students is unwavering,” Jameson said in a statement. “At the same time, we must comply with federal requirements, including executive orders and NCAA eligibility rules, so that teams and student-athletes can engage in competitive intercollegiate sports.”
Jameson added that the university is following Title IX, which is “always followed and continues to continue” and NCAA and Ivy League policies. Penn began the process of reviewing and renewing women’s swimming records set during team Thomas’ season and “indicates who will keep the records under current eligibility guidelines.”
