Ivy League Confirms Lia Thomas Will Be Eligible To Compete At Conference Championships

Ivy League Confirms Lia Thomas Will Be Eligible for Conference Championships

Recent announcements of rule changes from the NCAA and from USA Swimming have thrown Lia Thomas’ eligibility for March’s NCAA Championships into doubt, but the NCAA will not make a final determination until late this month. However, Thomas will definitely be able to compete at her final Ivy League Championships. The NCAA announcement about new rules suggested any changes would not apply this season outside the NCAA Championships, and the Ivy League confirmed that policy to Swimming World on Monday evening.

“The recent rule changes do not impact Lia’s eligibility for this month’s Ivy League Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships as the effective date for this unprecedented midseason NCAA policy change begins with the 2022 NCAA Winter Championships,” an Ivy League spokesperson said in an email to Swimming World.

The conference meet is scheduled for February 16-19, and it will take place at Harvard University.

The new NCAA policy regarding transgender athletes defers to national governing bodies for the purpose of determining eligibility in each sport, and if the NCAA were to immediately follow a strict version of USA Swimming’s new rule, no transgender athlete would be allowed to compete in the women’s category prior to showing that her concentration of testosterone in serum has been less than 5 nmol/L for a continuous period of 36 months. Thomas did not begin transitioning until the late spring of 2019, so that may make her ineligible for NCAAs.

However, there are several possible loopholes that may allow Thomas to compete after all. According to the NCAA’s January 20 release, the organization recommends “flexibility to allow for additional eligibility if a transgender student-athlete loses eligibility based on the policy change provided they meet the newly adopted standards.” That may mean that Thomas would only need to record a testosterone level matching USA Swimming’s 5 nmol/L at a point one month prior to the NCAA Championships to retain her eligibility, or it may mean that she would be grandfathered into this season’s NCAA Championships regardless of testosterone levels.

A spokesperson for the NCAA confirmed last week that the Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) “will review this change at its next meeting and will make recommendations as it deems appropriate to the NCAA Board of Governors.” That meeting will take place in late February.

Thomas’ presence in competition this season has generated considerable debate, particularly concerning the fairness for biological women racing against her.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

Name*

Email*

78 Comments

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

"Karen"

2 years ago

This is outrageous.

The only silver-lining is that from here on out no rational person will send their child to an over-priced, over-Woke Ivy League to become indoctrinated into gender ideology/Queer Theory and other unscientific, deeply misogynistic, tripe.

P.S. Lia Thomas is not and will never be a woman

Stop appropriating words

2 years ago

Reply to "Karen"

Stop appropriating words. “Woke” has to do with consciousness and being aware of a history that by historical law and commitment has been deliberately buried and denied. This area of the sociopolitical landscape is uncharted. Sick of the appropriators taking words and their meaning and re-narrating it their own way.

The problem here is that Lin competed just last year as a man and was unremarkable. She should not be able to forum shop and compete in another league where she literally increases her ranking more than 400 levels. Without resorting to ignorance and bigotry we see the numbers don’t work here. Very sorry for the hurt women like Lin experience but even with testosterone suppression Lin is not competing against her true peers.

Anonymous

2 years ago

Reply to Stop appropriating words

Don’t him “she”. He’s a guy. Lift up his dress and it will be obvious.

"Karen"

2 years ago

Reply to Stop appropriating words

I’ll put it in SJW terms for you, then:

MEN, like Lia Thomas, are APPROPRIATING my biology and my oppression, and that of every woman, especially the women forced to swim against them.

MEN are COLONIZING & OCCUPYING women’s sex-segregated SAFE SPACES, like Penn’s women’s locker room, where allegedly the “woman” in question has been swing “her” male genitalia around.

MEN are also COLONIZING & OCCUPYING women’s sports, under the guise that, somewhere in their heads, they are women too. Hey buddy, PROVE IT.

And we’re supposed to believe them and let these men run roughshod over women’s rights, women’s safety and women’s sports.

NO – there is nothing BIGOTed about women standing up for our rights, like these brave swimmers.

TEG

2 years ago

Reply to Stop appropriating words

Has “woke” always meant what it means now, per your perceived definition above? This appropriation business is going too far.

David Smith

2 years ago

Reply to "Karen"

He’s a guy. Grow some nuts and compete against guys.

Peggy

2 years ago

Reply to "Karen"

I do agree with you. This nonsense has to stop. This guy could not compete in men’s so as a coward he chose to go against the women. If he still has his d..k Then he should only be able to compete in men’s swimming.

DR. TY HOOPER

2 years ago

Reply to "Karen"

AMEN and WELL SAID, TIME to STOP the Nonsense !

Jake Boyd

2 years ago

Dude has a D***, wants to swim in the Girls Race.

Susan

2 years ago

Reply to Jake Boyd

Amen, Jake. Enough said.

Ex Collegiate FEMALE Swimmee

2 years ago

Reply to Jake Boyd

I’m certain that most women have no issue with Lia being transgender. He/she is free to be whatever so long as it doesn’t affect others’ lives. Swimming as a female DOES affect other people’s lives. It is wrong! Let him/her swim– with other people who were born male. Seeing Lia smile after beating female swimmers makes me feel sick. How can he/she feel good about him/herself? He/She has cheated to get those results. Lia should be in the stands dressed in whatever makes him/her feel good… just not a women’s swim suit.

Lacie

2 years ago

Reply to Ex Collegiate FEMALE Swimmee

Absolutely! This is sick and so wrong- this person has a serious physical advantage and should NOT be competing against actual women

LetAllWomenCompete

2 years ago

Good. Lia deserves to compete. She has suffered more from namecalling, misgendering, hate, betrayal of teamates, wimping out of NCAA due to societal pressure, and not hard data. She has worked just as hard as any other woman in the competitions. But the reality is she will likely lose in the final National Championship competitions because few people could emerge from the insanity thrown her way by haters and be healthy enough to win against the best. If she does it will be a remarkable accomplishment. It will also be the first time in trans woman has won a championship in 76 cumulative years of competition when you combine Olympics, NCAA Division 1, and US Open. Millions of women have competed during this time. And Lia would be the first if she could accomplish such a feat. Then, after this year there will likely never be another trans woman when a national championship due to the incredibly constraining rules designed to keep trans from competing.

Frank

2 years ago

Reply to LetAllWomenCompete

Give me a break! She is a man. It will be no feat when he wins against the women. This is a sham! Sinful behavior

Anonymous

2 years ago

Reply to Frank

You so right Frank

Sarah

2 years ago

Reply to LetAllWomenCompete

Lia Thomas is a cheater. I feel so bad for the women who have not only have compete with a male but be exposed to male genitalia in their own changing room. Lia can say he’s a woman all he wants but it doesn’t make it true. Nobody watching him sees a woman. I don’t even think he believes he’s a woman, just wanted to be #1 instead of #462.

Susan

2 years ago

Reply to Sarah

My thoughts EXACTLY! No amount of makeup and lipstick can change the reality of his sex. And yes, I said “his”. #1 instead of #462 could be enough incentive for his epiphany….. Just saying.

Anti-racist

2 years ago

Reply to Sarah

If Lia is a cheater then so is Penn.

SETH

2 years ago

Reply to LetAllWomenCompete

Wonderful and powerful comment.

Ellen

2 years ago

Reply to SETH

Lia Thomas is a cheat. No self respecting and decent man will ever compete against women. And when I say man and woman I mean adult human male and female.
Lia is a male and should have never been allowed to compete in a female category. Ever.

Stuart

2 years ago

Reply to LetAllWomenCompete

Let All Women Compete – He is not a woman!

Anonymous

2 years ago

Reply to Stuart

Your an idiot it is a man get over it it can’t win as a man so it change to a girl shame on it shame on you

-1

Chris

2 years ago

Reply to LetAllWomenCompete

If you cant hack it in the males division…..
HE is not a female. His body chemistry is not that of a female. He should not be allowed to race females. How can he feel proud of his accomplishments when his physical abilities outweigh any and all of the females?

Anonymous

2 years ago

Reply to LetAllWomenCompete

Lia will never be a woman and your an idiot!

-1

Cali

2 years ago

Reply to Anonymous

All u 100% Women Boycott the race deny that ” He/She ” his wanna b glory

D. Bowman

2 years ago

Reply to LetAllWomenCompete

Stop the insanity! His physiology, anatomy, strength and endurance as a male, for 20+ years, give him an unbeatable advantage over true females. Stop the lunacy…just STOP.

-1

Dr3yec

2 years ago

Reply to D. Bowman

You forgot also a cheater. No matter how much you sugar coat it.

-1

Zoe Ferguson

2 years ago

Reply to D. Bowman

Please tell me what accomplishment is involved here other than having enough narcissistic tendencies to be able to go out and take a spot that doesn’t belong to you even when you’re in the public eye?

-1

Biological woman

2 years ago

Reply to D. Bowman

Not even Caitlyn Jenner agrees with this, a former Olympian. Completely not fair. Her height is taller than the average female. They usu have bigger hands, larger lungs, bigger heart, no hips, bone structure different…..competed as a man before…still has more teetering. This is a slap in biological womens sports. All trans should feel ashamed to compete in women’s sports…stop being selfish and start a trans league. I’m a competitive biological female….and doesn’t take rocket science to know its not fair. Women we need to protest and sign petitions. This is getting out of hand. Men need to stay out of womans sports. Trans can do whatever but not in womens sports!

-1

Susan Prior

2 years ago

Reply to LetAllWomenCompete

So swimming legends like Katie Ledecky and Missy Franklin just have to grin and bear it when their NCAA records are broken by a biological male? What message does that send to young female swimmers like my daughter? It’s madness and if Lia really cared about female athletes she would step down.

-1

Steve

2 years ago

Reply to Susan Prior

Yeah right. Nevermind the obvious. That “he” just dominates actual women while only being ranked in the 400’s as the actual gender HE is. Totally fair. Give me a fkn break!

-1

Steve

2 years ago

Reply to LetAllWomenCompete

ALL the real ladies should just refuse to compete against this dude. Let him swim laps alone. The end result is the same. He wins.

-1

Amanda J.

2 years ago

Reply to Steve

I agree 100%.

-1

Amber

2 years ago

Reply to LetAllWomenCompete

He was born a man he should be swimming with men. He has the advantage over those girls WHO WORKED JUST AS HARD AS HE DID AND DESERVE A FAIR CHANCE. SO SCREW U. YOU MUST OF VOTED FOR THAT THING IN OFFICE

-1

Real Woman

2 years ago

Reply to LetAllWomenCompete

She does not deserve to compete. She has bigger hands, feet, lungs, heart, no hips, taller, etc…more testosterone. I’m a competitive female and know Life 101 that is is not fair. Not all trans people agree with this. People who do are either non athletic or don’t care about saving womens sports. Women only started to run in marathons in the 1970s. We were banned before.

-1

DR. TY HOOPER

2 years ago

Reply to LetAllWomenCompete

WRONG, HE is NOT a Female and will NEVER be a Female. HIS. DNA is MALE .

-1

Pikay

2 years ago

Reply to LetAllWomenCompete

I disagree. This is like saying that if a 25-year-old beat an 8-year-old in an arm-wrestling contest, it’s because the 25-year-old worked really, really hard and deserved to win.

People are protesting this not because they “hate transpeople” but because they can see that what has been allowed to happen is grossly unfair to natal female athletes. Lia Thomas can, no doubt, ALSO see that it is unfair to natal female athletes. But obviously, Lia Thomas doesn’t CARE how unfair this is to natal female athletes. In spite of this, we are supposed to admire Lia Thomas’ “courage” instead of standing up for those “betraying” team mates who were cheated, muzzled, and compelled to surrender their locker room privacy and dignity to a swimmer with an intact male body and an ongoing attraction to females?

No.

I don’t understand why you think it would be such a great accomplishment for Lia Thomas to swim to victory over all the natal women Lia Thomas has obvious overwhelming physical advantages over. How is that an “accomplishment” rather than just an “inevitability”?

Frankly, the new “standards” do not go far enough. Testosterone is a tiny piece of the story (and even the levels the rules ask for don’t take them down to female-body territory). Worse, the new rules ignore the larger muscles, greater lung capacity, larger heart, longer body, etc., of a transgender athlete who went through male puberty.

Female sports categories should be open only and forever to natal female bodies. People with male bodies but female gender identities should also be able and encouraged to compete, but NOT in the category reserved for female bodies.

I hope someday soon the natal female athletes will stand up to this unfairness. Female and mixed categories are the answer.

Patricia

2 years ago

Reply to LetAllWomenCompete

Yes, she does deserve to compete – AGAINST PEOPLE SIMILARLY SITUATED. Which is NOT biological women.

But, she gets her rocks off on beating women. The smile on her face is demented, just like in movies. Or maybe like a cat who just swallowed a canary. Kind of reminds me of Jack Nicholson in the The Shining. “Honey, I’m home!”

Absolutely no empathy for anyone else. A true woker – me, me, me! Same with the whole Ivy League sickos. Maybe their brains are all infected with COVID.

Will Thomas quit the men’s team in November 2019 (junior year) after 3 or 4 dual meets in which he was coming in 3rd behind teammates, including rising freshman star Matt Bonnesll.

From a Nov. 16 meet against Princeton:

“As has been the case throughout the season, the Quakers got off to a hot start with a dominating performance in a distance event. CJ Hinckley headlined a 1-2-3 finish in the 1,000 free with a time of 9:31.41.Matt Haigh (9:32.62), and Will Thomas (9:33.37) closely followed.”

“The Quakers closed things out with another victory in a distance event. Freshman Matt Bonnell won the 500 free (4:29.53) while William Kamps finished second (4:32.96).”

His 4 years at U Penn was over in June 2021, so why didn’t he graduate? Or, maybe he actually did. But, aha! He decided to make HUGE SPECTABLE on the women’s team in his 5th year at U PENN as to poster child and CAUSE CELEBRE for the LGBTQ community, who also have no empathy for anyone but them self.

Your comment it typical of supporters, totally lacking in any rational argument examining real facts. That seems a hallmark of the supports. NO RATIONAL ARGUMENT. NO EMPATHY FOR ANY WOMEN. That’s really sick.

stevie

2 years ago

Reply to LetAllWomenCompete

you are so wrong. If she truly loves the sport of swimming she would not swim or she should swim in male races and transgender after senior year. no one is denying her a chance to swim but she is denying some girl a chance to shine as a champion. It is wrong on so many levels. Bad for women’s sports really bad for the ivy league. Even with the level of testostone that was set for her ,she will still be twice what a biological girl would have. She will have bigger hands,larger lungs all very important in swimming. you clearly are not a swimmer or you would know this.

Leslie

2 years ago

It would be very cool if all of the alumni immediately withdrew all of their donations. And all of the swimmers boycotted.

-1

Susan

2 years ago

My thoughts EXACTLY! No amount of makeup and lipstick can change the reality of his sex. And yes, I said “his”. #1 instead of #462 could be enough incentive for his epiphany….. Just saying.

-2

AEF

2 years ago

He’s a man, he’s a man, he’s a man….. PERIODTTT!

-1

Mom

2 years ago

Reply to AEF

Truth wins. He is a man.

-1

Jeff

2 years ago

At the end of the day if ya put lipstick on a piv, its still a pig!!

-1

Anonymous

2 years ago

All females should just stand on block at beginning of every race he is in.

-1

.ayhem

2 years ago

All of the female swimmers should boycott the championships so that Lia swims alone. They should rent the nearest pool and hold their own race, even if it isn’t the right size pool, just to makr a statement. That started happening a lot in mountain bike racing when people were fed up with the national organization. It has also become common with horse shows– holding “unrecognized shows” because people are fed up with the U.S. Equestrian Federation.

-1

Sharon

2 years ago

100 years later, and we still don’t have a voice. Why even bother when the patriarchy will always find a way to win?

-1

Amanda J.

2 years ago

Reply to Sharon

Well said

-1

"Karen"

2 years ago

Reply to Sharon

Honestly!

Who would have thought that the way misogynists would finally be able to destroy women’s human and civil rights would be by putting on a dress and claiming to be women.

-1

Robert

2 years ago

It’s simply a question of motivation. If Lia’s motivation was truly to be a women, then she would see the discourse that her continued participation is causing to the fellow competitors within her newly accepted gender, and voluntarily pull out of the competition. If his motivation is to selfishly exert his biologically given competitive advantage over female competition, then he will continue. His actions are disruptive to the sport as a whole and very unfair to the young women who have worked so hard to compete at this level, who have played by the rules and who have accepted who they were born to be. How can Lia ever expect to be accepted as a women if she doesn’t respect the accomplishments of other women?

-1

John Bahlinger

2 years ago

Reply to Robert

Good point. I feel bad for Trans people but she has to realize the unfair advantage she has if she wants to be respected as a woman.

-1

DR. TY HOOPER

2 years ago

Reply to John Bahlinger

WRONG, HE is NOT a Female and will NEVER be a Female. HIS. DNA is MALE .

-1

D. Bowman

2 years ago

Stop the insanity! His physiology, anatomy, strength and endurance as a male, for 20+ years, give him an unbeatable advantage over true females. Stop the lunacy…just STOP.

-1

Hydro

2 years ago

I hope Lia competes and I hope she wins for several reasons. First, cuz I don’t gaf about college swimming anyway. Second, cuz it would be awesome seeing so many ignorant m’fers, such as many of those making their misogynistic comments here, get all buttsore because they didn’t get their way.

D. Bowman

2 years ago

Reply to Hydro

Read what you wrote – do you understand what the word “misogynistic” even means? It can only be applied to WOMEN. This is not a woman, regardless of how hard he pretends. Think a little harder – it’s about fairness, NOT misogyny.
,

DR. TY HOOPER

2 years ago

Reply to Hydro

WRONG waterboy, this IT was Born Male and will die Male. ALSO , considering your Chosen lifestyle, the only one with a Sore Butt would be YOU Cinderella M ‘FKR

-1

D. Bowman

2 years ago

-1

Cali

2 years ago

All u 100% Women Boycott the race deny that ” He/She ” his wanna b glory

-1

Ex Collegiate FEMALE Swimmee

2 years ago

-1

John

2 years ago

You so right Frank

-1

Jemma

2 years ago

This is just the latest instance of males making demands of females and females being expected to give in with grace. Transgender women are women, but as we’ve been told, not all women are female. Female athletes should compete against female athletes and male athletes can budge over and make room for women born in male bodies. Separate sports by sex, not gender. Gender is just a construct, right?

-1

DR. TY HOOPER

2 years ago

Reply to Jemma

WRONG, THEY are NOT , and will NEVER be Women, they are Males impersonating REAL FEMALES.

-1

Mauricio Ortiz

2 years ago

Nobody in their right reasonable mind would ever even consider allowing a MAN to compete against women on a physical sport.
The fact that Lia identifies himself with a woman does not make him a woman. No more than someone identifying themselves as an airplane would make them an airplane.

-1

foggy

2 years ago

Will has chosen to compete with others than his peers. It would be no different than if he applied to race 9th graders.

-1

Terrie

2 years ago

This is just so viscerally wrong. As a woman this makes me want to scream! Lia is NOT a biologic woman, I have no issue with her wanting to live her gender identity. But continuing to allow her to complete against BIOLOGIC women is a complete farce, and a slap in the face to not only Title VIIII but to every woman who has fought for women’s spaces

-1

Terrie

2 years ago

This is just so viscerally wrong. As a woman this makes me want to scream! Lia is NOT a biologic woman, I have no issue with her wanting to live her gender identity. But continuing to allow her to compete against BIOLOGIC women is a complete farce, and a slap in the face to not only Title VIIII but to every woman who has fought for women’s spaces

-1

Fighting for Real Women

2 years ago

Women need to not compete. Can you imagine if ftm female to male transgenders were winning in men’s sports?? You don’t hear such things because they can’t win. Women we need to stand up to injustice now. People who agree with this are not athletic or not smart. Guess who’s losing?? Biological women…Absolutely not fair!

-1

Art

2 years ago

When the starter says take your mark all of the biological females simply fall in the pool. They’re all disqualified and ready to compete again.

Bob

2 years ago

The real victims are kids, specifically, aspiring young girls. This will decay competitive girls swimming.

-1

Mel

2 years ago

He’s not a woman. Never will be. And this is wrong.

-1

DR. TY HOOPER

2 years ago

EASY FIX, the REAL FEMALE Swimmers Show up and REFUSE TO GO IN THE WATER WHEN THE STARTER GUN GOES OFF. IF THE women BOYCOTT this insanity, watch how Fast this wannabe Female drops out or quits the team

-1

Jack

2 years ago

Why not just create a separate trans division? Seems simple enough. Those transitioning can compete.

-1

Billy

2 years ago

I’m 100% against “Lia” swimming against real 100% female swimmers, but if he does at the Women’s Ivy League Championships, it’s gonna be an absolute media circus. What’s gonna happen if “she” breaks some league records? Are they going to stand? It might be SRO (standing room only) with all the reporters being in attendance. This will be very interesting!

-1

OceanSpirit

2 years ago

Reply to Billy

ALL of Lia’s wins have a big fat asterisk next to them because he’s a cheater. They are not legitimate. If he breaks any records at the Championships, they’ll be just as invalid.

-1

Patricia

2 years ago

IVY LEAGUE BE PROUD!!!

How is it going to feel year after year for a young aspiring girl to know that no matter how hard she trains in the pool, no matter how many hours in the weigh room, she”ll never be able to beat the records set at the IVY LEAGUE FREAK SHOW.

WE’VE COME A LONG WAY BABY!!

-1

Joe Transfoe

2 years ago

In ancient Greece, the maeneds were followers of Dionysus. They determined that a man insulted the god, and attacked him as a group. He was killed.

Be like the Maeneds, swimmers.

-1

Sanford G. Thatcher

2 years ago

I am a member of the board of The Drake Group, which seeks a balance between inclusivity of transgender athletes and fairness in competition. Lia Thomas is not to be blamed for following the existing rules, and the Ivy League is justified in being annoyed with the NCAA in changing the rules in mid-season. However, two wrings do nit make a right, and allowing Thomas to compete at Ivies will harm multiple other athletes and significantly affect the outcome of the meet. Ellie Marquardt, in particular, who won the 500, 1000, and 1650 at the last Ivies, helping Princeton win the meet, was the High Point Award winner of the meet. Thomas will very likely win all those events and thereby claim the award at this year’s meet. How can this possibly be fair? Thoas has legacy advantages from puberty like height (6’4″), great upper-body strength. big hands and feet that help her swim more efficiently, etc. and none of these advantages can be offset just by hormone therapy. Thisd wiull be a stain on the Ivy League’s reputation, favoring just one athlete over multiple others who will lose out, and any records Thomas sets should therefore bear an asterisk beside them just as the records set by swimmers wearing high tech suits before FINA banned them. Thomas will enjoy the same advantages that the East German women did in there 1976 Olympics when, despite setting more American records than any US national team before or since, the US was able to win only one event. That injustice was created by bureaucratic failure to recognize the obvious, and its has yet to be corrected or acknowledged by FINA more than 454 years after the event. The Ivy League will have to accept responsibility for creating this injustice. It benefits only one person for one year, yet the damage done will be lasting–and probably harm the cause of transgender participating in sports rather than help it, as comments earlier in this thread suggest.

-1

OceanSpirit

2 years ago

Lia can decide in his mind that he wants to be a woman but he will never be one because he’s a MAN. Let’s be real here. When he competed on the men’s team he was ranked somewhere like 462. He transitions to be “called” a woman, joins the women’s team and is now ranked number 1. LIA THOMAS IS A CHEATER. End of story. All of his wins have a big fat asterisk next to them. They are not legitimate. If he were still racing against men, we wouldn’t even know his name.