Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas failed in her challenge against rules that stopped her from competing in elite women’s races because judges ruled she did not have standing to bring the case.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport panel of three judges rejectedThomas’ request for arbitration with the World Aquatics governing body, in a ruling released Wednesday.
World Aquatics banned transgender women who have been through male puberty from competing in women’s races. It also created an “open” category for which transgender athletes would be eligible.
Thomas had asked the sports court in Switzerland to overturn the rules approved in 2022 that she said were invalid, unlawful, and discriminatory.
Thomas called the CAS’ decision “deeply disappointing” in a statement provided by her legal team. “Blanket bans preventing trans women from competing are discriminatory and deprive us of valuable athletic opportunities that are central to our identities.” Thomas said the decision should be viewed as a call to action for trans women to ”fight for our dignity and human rights.”
Athlete Ally founder and executive director Hudson Taylor called it a “sad day for sports and for anyone who believes that trans athletes should have the opportunity for their experiences of discrimination to be heard and adjudicated like everyone else.”
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) president/CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement that Thomas deserves a chance to participate in her sport like all human beings who work hard and follow their dream.
“World Aquatics continues to spread disinformation about transgender people as a distorted way to ‘protect women,’” Ellis added. ”Transgender women are women and all athletes who want to play and follow the rules should have a chance to do so.”
“The panel concludes that she lacks standing to challenge the policy and the operational requirements in the framework of the present proceeding,” the court said in its ruling.
