Back in June of 2022, World Aquatics passed a rule change that banned transgender women who have been through male puberty from competing in women’s races. And now, prominent transgender swimmer Lia Thomas is challenging those rules in court in an apparent attempt to make a run at the Olympics.
According to a report from the Associated Press, Lia Thomas has asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland to overturn the rules that are currently preventing her from competing in elite women’s races or qualifying for the Olympic Games, arguing that the rules are discriminatory.
“Ms Thomas seeks an order from the CAS declaring that the [World Aquatics rules] are unlawful, invalid, and of no force and effect,” the court said in a written statement.
The Associated Press reports that Thomas “hoped one day to compete in U.S. Olympic trials.”
Given the controversial nature of the rules, this move from Thomas obviously led to a lot of reactions on social media as people gave their opinions on the matter.
Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas is challenging the international ban on her competing in elite women's races. https://t.co/BX9tKb1igE
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) January 27, 2024
Lia Thomas as every right to transition. Lea does not have the right to erase fairness for female athletes. @icons_women @ICFSport @sharrond62 Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas taking legal action against World Aquatics https://t.co/GKI2BfCpAs
— Mary I. O'Connor, MD OLY (@MaryOConnorMD) January 26, 2024
Lia Thomas, a man, wants the chance to qualify for the U.S. Women’s swimming squad.
You have got to be kidding me. https://t.co/xWUvZNDOG0
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) January 26, 2024
Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas files lawsuit against World Aquatics https://t.co/hrnXkDWlAm
— The Advocate (@TheAdvocateMag) January 29, 2024
👏👏👏👏👏👏
— J. Jacob Marion, Writer of Gay Urban Fantasy🍉 (@JJacobMarion) January 30, 2024
Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas wants the chance to qualify for the U.S. Women’s squad ahead of the upcoming Olympics and has reportedly been fighting a secret legal fight in hopes of making that happen.
World Aquatics bans biological males from competing in women’s races, and… pic.twitter.com/5tYdHd1adQ
— OutKick (@Outkick) January 26, 2024
Lia Thomas challenges World Aquatics' policy on transgender athletes before Olympic court: report https://t.co/AYMAgndIYF
— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 27, 2024
it will certainly be interesting to see whether or not Thomas is successful in her attempt to challenge the rules, or if she is able to make history and qualify for the Olympics.
[ESPN]
