The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed American swimmer Lia Thomas’s legal challenge against World Aquatics (WA), the governing body responsible for international competitive swimming. Thomas sought to overturn a ban preventing transgender women who have experienced male puberty from participating in elite women’s races, but the CAS ruled against her on procedural grounds.
In its decision, the CAS concluded that Thomas, 25, who made history as the first transgender athlete to win a U.S. national college title in March 2022, did not have the standing to contest the WA’s regulations. The court’s 24-page verdict stated that Thomas could not challenge the eligibility rules because she was no longer a member of U.S. Swimming and did not compete in WA-sanctioned events. Thus, she was deemed “not sufficiently affected” by the rules to warrant legal action.
The dispute centers around WA’s 2022 policy that restricts transgender women from competing in women’s elite races if they have gone through any stage of male puberty. Thomas argued that these rules were discriminatory and sought to have them overturned.
In response to the ruling, WA praised the decision as a significant advancement in protecting the integrity of women’s sports. A statement from the organization emphasized its commitment to fairness, inclusivity, and equality for all athletes.
“World Aquatics is dedicated to fostering an environment that promotes fairness, respect, and equal opportunities for athletes of all genders, and we reaffirm this pledge,” WA stated. The governing body highlighted its policies, including the introduction of an open category, as part of its ongoing efforts to balance inclusivity with competitive equity.
WA’s stance is that its gender inclusion policy, regularly reviewed to align with its core values, represents a fair approach to addressing the complex issues surrounding gender and competition in aquatic sports.
The decision by the CAS marks a notable moment in the ongoing debate over transgender participation in sports, reflecting the challenges of balancing inclusion with fairness in competitive settings.
