Trans-identified swimmer Lia Thomas has failed in their legal attempt to overturn a ban preventing biological males from competing in women’s events.

This decision means Thomas will not be able to participate in the Paris Olympics in the women’s category.

Thomas, 25, gained attention in 2022 after becoming the first trans-identified athlete to win an NCAA college title.

Following this, World Aquatics revised its policies, stipulating that transgender women can only compete in women’s races if they completed their sex transition by the age of 12. Thomas challenged this policy in the Court of Arbitration for Sport. 

On Wednesday, the panel of arbitrators decided that Thomas did not have standing to appeal the policy.

According to the CAS panel’s decision, Thomas is ineligible to participate in elite events run by USA Swimming or World Aquatics “for the time being.”

World Aquatics immediately supported the court’s decision, calling it “a major step forward in our efforts to protect women’s sport.” The organization further stated, “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.”

NCAA win

In 2022, controversy surrounded Thomas’s dominant NCAA victory, sparking debates about fairness in women’s sports. Many argued that allowing biological males to compete against women undermines the integrity of female competition for obvious reasons.

Following the court’s decision on Wednesday, Thomas’s former NCAA teammate, Riley Gaines, posted to social media “Great news! Lia Thomas won’t be able to compete in women’s category at the Olympics or any other elite competition. He has just lost his legal battle in Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling. This is a victory for women and girls everywhere.”