The University of Pennsylvania agreed to publicly affirm its commitment to barring transgender athletes from competing in women's sports, the Education Department announced Tuesday, in a resolution with the Trump administration that will also require the school to modify a trio of records and apologize to several female competitors.
"While Penn's policies during the 2021-2022 swim season were in accordance with NCAA eligibility rules at the time, we acknowledge that some student-athletes were disadvantaged by these rules," Penn President J. Larry Jameson said in a statement. "We recognize this and will apologize to those who experienced a competitive disadvantage or experienced anxiety because of the policies in effect at the time."
The agreement was born from the saga that began in 2021, when Lia Thomas, who identifies as a transgender woman, began competing on the women's swimming team at Penn—ultimately setting three program records and clinching the NCAA Division 1 championship title for the 500-yard freestyle event. Thomas' participation during the 2021-2022 season poured fuel on a present but somewhat nascent national conversation about whether it is ever fair for someone born a biological male, with the associated physical advantages, to compete in girls' and women's sports.
