'Non-surgical Transgender' Thomas Sues to Compete in Women's Swimming Division

400th in Men's Swimming... 1st in Women's Event
Demand for Revision of Discriminatory Clauses

Ria Thomas (24, USA), a swimmer who competed in men's events without undergoing genital removal surgery and later participated in women's competitions, has initiated legal action to regain eligibility to compete in women's events after being barred from women's competitions due to the International Swimming Federation's strengthened regulations.

Local foreign media reported on the 27th (Korean time) that "Thomas has filed a lawsuit with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to compete again in elite women's competitions."

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas [Photo by AP·Yonhap News]

In June 2022, the International Swimming Federation announced, "Only athletes who have undergone gender reassignment surgery before the age of 12 can compete in women's events," adding, "This does not mean we encourage surgery before age 12. In most countries, surgery at that age is not feasible." Previously, transgender athletes were allowed to compete in women's events as long as their testosterone (male hormone) levels were kept below a certain threshold.

Ria Thomas was a male swimmer standing 193 cm tall. He consistently ranked around 500th in men's competitions. Then, expressing that "I consider myself a woman," he wished to compete in women's events, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States permitted this. Thomas underwent hormone replacement therapy but did not have genital removal surgery.

In March 2022, he competed in the women's 500-yard freestyle event at the National Collegiate Swimming Championships and won first place. This made him the first transgender woman in U.S. history to win a national competition. Thomas is a member of the University of Pennsylvania women's swimming team.

However, after the International Swimming Federation effectively banned transgender athletes from competing in women's events, Thomas has been unable to participate in official competitions since June 2022. Consequently, Thomas filed a lawsuit. CAS stated, "Thomas acknowledges that sports pursue fair competition and that some regulations on transgender athletes are appropriate. However, some provisions are discriminatory and require revision," adding, "No hearing schedule has been set yet."

Previously, teammates on the same team voiced their grievances. Paula Scanlan, a teammate, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives, saying, "I was forced to undress 18 times a week in front of Thomas, who still has male genitalia." She added, "Female athletes raised complaints, but the school only responded that no compromise was possible," and "When concerns were expressed to the school, they instead provided psychological services aimed at re-educating us to feel comfortable undressing in front of a man."

Paula Scanlan also criticized Thomas for competing in various women's events with a biologically male body. She stated, "Thomas was ranked around 500th nationally as a male athlete but became an NCAA champion in women's competitions," condemning, "Women lost their place on the podium."

Seven out of Ten Americans Oppose Transgender Participation in Women's Sports

The majority of Americans strongly oppose transgender women competing in women's sports. Gallup, a U.S. public opinion polling organization, surveyed 1,011 adults last year regarding "views on transgender women participating in women's sports and on gender-affirming hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery aimed at appearing as the opposite sex."

Transgender athlete Lia Thomas [Photo by AP·Yonhap News]

When asked, "Do you support transgender athletes competing in sports that align with their gender identity?" about 70% of respondents answered, "No. They should compete with athletes matching their biological sex." This means seven out of ten Americans opposed transgender athletes participating in women's sports. Conversely, only 26% supported transgender athletes competing against female athletes.

This survey emerged amid legislative efforts to require transgender-identified athletes to compete according to their "biological sex." Currently, such laws are enforced in 24 states, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.