Lia Thomas’ NCAA wins may be revoked after UPenn adopts sex-based eligibility rules

The University of Pennsylvania has agreed to bar transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports following a federal civil rights investigation prompted by former swimmer Lia Thomas.

The decision comes after a U.S. Department of Education probe into whether the university’s policies violated Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs.

Lia Thomas, who made headlines in 2022 as the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national title, became the center of nationwide debate regarding trans inclusion in competitive women’s athletics.

As part of the resolution, UPenn will apologize to female athletes whose event outcomes and records were affected during Thomas’ competition period. The university also committed to restoring titles and updating records to reflect what the Department of Education refers to as “eligibility-consistent athletes.” While UPenn said it will amend its athletic records to note who would now hold titles under current guidelines, it did not clarify whether Thomas’ achievements will be formally erased.

The Department of Education said the agreement “recognizes the rights of female athletes whose opportunities were misappropriated by male athletes in violation of federal protections.”

The university, a member of the Ivy League, will now revise its internal athletics policies to align with federal guidance on sex-based competition eligibility. The outcome could set a precedent as other institutions review how they handle transgender participation in collegiate sports.

The case reignites national conversation around fairness, inclusion, and evolving interpretations of Title IX as applied to gender identity in athletics.

UPenn will ban trans athletes from women’s sports after a federal probe into swimmer Lia Thomas and NCAA competition.