Transgender Swimmer Lia Thomas Challenges World Aquatics' Policy in Court

Thomas seeks to overturn rules barring transgender women who have undergone 'any part of male puberty' from competing in women’s swimming events.

Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer who won a women’s NCAA event in 2022, is challenging World Aquatics' policy that prevents transgender women from competing in women’s divisions.
Thomas has hired Canadian law firm Tyr to ask the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland to overturn the rules.
The rules, introduced by World Aquatics in 2022, prohibit anyone who has undergone 'any part of male puberty' from competing in women’s swimming events.
Thomas’ case, which was initiated in September 2023, was confidential until recently disclosed by the court.
No hearing date has been set, making it unlikely that the case will be resolved in time for Thomas to qualify for the 2024 Olympic trials in June.