Daily Mail: Penn Swimmers Considered Boycott Over Lia Thomas Situation; Future Actions Unclear

Daily Mail: Penn Swimmers Considered Boycott Over Lia Thomas Situation; Potential Actions Remain Unclear

According to an exclusive report by the Daily Mail, which has provided leading and continuing coverage of the Lia Thomas situation, members of the University of Pennsylvania women’s swim team considered boycotting their Jan. 8 home meet against Dartmouth. The protest was considered in response to Thomas, a transgender woman, being allowed to be a member of Penn’s women’s squad after three years competing for the Penn men’s team.

Since last competing for the Pennsylvania men’s program, Thomas has transitioned to female and undergone hormone-suppressant therapy for more than a year, in accordance with the requirements of the NCAA to compete in women’s athletics. Thomas has posted the top times in the country in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle, and it has been argued that her years of testosterone production and male puberty have provided advantages that have not been mitigated.

The Daily Mail, citing sources close to the situation, revealed that some members of the Penn women’s team debated a boycott of the upcoming meet, only to opt away from that decision due to concerns over being branded as transphobic. The protest would have raised problems with the NCAA rule that allows Thomas to compete and which creates an uneven playing field for biological women.

Parents have expressed their concerns to the University of Pennsylvania and NCAA, and the Daily Mail article – citing its sources – noted that some swimmers considered a false start or no-showing for an event as forms of protest. The NCAA has not responded. The main concern for the athletes regarding a protest is jeopardizing their place on the team which will compete at the Ivy League Championships or being labeled as anti-transgender.

Here is a link to the complete article by the Daily Mail.

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Anonymous

2 years ago

I was waiting for this to happen. If I were in the girls’ shoes (fins) I would FS or DQ somehow, but wait til conference to do it. I’m sure many will enter transfer portal if they haven’t already. Recruiting will be nearly impossible for Penn. There are so many more options! Does this coach abs school actually think real women will want to swim there now ? What are they actually trying to achieve ? That is what I wonder !

2 years ago

Not transphobic at all, but regardless of what you do to yourself if you are born a male you are a male. You can identify however you want but It’s just genetics. He(she) should do the right thing and recuse himself from all competition or maybe swim exhibition. What would him breaking Katy Ladeckys records mean? Where does it stop? It is just not right and not fair to all the women that are competing now and in the past. And shame to the University of Penn admin for sending the parents a link to metal health issues. They should all be let go. Just my opinion

Anonymous

2 years ago

Reply to XY

Are people actually this stupid? The world has gone mad. This man who says he’s a girl is a big ol’ dumb jock, have you seen an interview with him? Let’s allow dolphins to swim against him.

Lori Taylor

2 years ago

Not fair to natural born girls who have worked there whole lives to achieve their college goals

Lucas

2 years ago

That man and the idiots at NCAA that allow him to compete with women should all be in a mental institution.

Phred

2 years ago

Lia will have to much of an advantage. If you look at the opposite situation, I don’t see many women trying to compete against the men in the mens heats

Denis McDaniel

2 years ago

The selfishness of this person is stunning. I don’t question their right to transition to a female identity, but isn’t it clear that this right should be predicated on accepting certain ethical boundaries? Such as not taking advantage of your body’s years of testosterone production to easily overperform in competition with born-females? It’s not “transphobic” to call out obvious unfairness.

Anonymous

2 years ago

Reply to Denis McDaniel

Meet the absurdity with absurdity…allow dolphins to swim against him.

MagnusF

2 years ago

*THIS* inclusion controversy is a big issue because
the powers that be (USA Swimming, NCAA, AAU, NCAA, FINA etc…) – have substituted fairness for equity.
Stringent standards should be non-negotiable.

Should an adult who has age-dyphoria be allowed to participate in sports for children? If not. Why not?

Gretchen

2 years ago

Make space don’t take space. Add an additional heat for transgender. Maybe Lia will swim alone this season, but she will open up lanes that are a safe space for others in the future without taking a lane, a scholarship, a travel team seat, a championship, etc. from a female that has worked her entire life to achieve.

Michael Connellan

2 years ago

If biological males are allowed to compete against females it will ultimately destroy women’s sports. It is an unfair, irrefutable physical advantage and it is dishonorable for a biological males to take advantage. A clear example of self-interested “Woke” social philosophy doing real harm. Are women now to compete instead in para-olympic events because they’re handicapped by nature?

Rohl Michelle

2 years ago

These women need to stand up and do the right thing. You can’t be afraid of what people will call you. That is just caving to the bullies.

Anonymous

2 years ago

once a guy should compete with the guys

Anonymous

2 years ago

If it was me I’d have every biological female threaten to quit unless he’s barred from competition his records null and void Medals revoked and kicked off the team he’s cheating the system he should be ashamed of himself eventually someone is going to humiliate him NCAA should be investigated for even allowing it to begin with

Last edited 2 years ago by Anonymous