Lia Thomas Loses Legal Battle, Barred from Elite Women's Swimming

A legal battle over transgender swimmer Lia Thomas has ended in a loss, as the Court of Arbitration for Sport has dismissed her request to overturn rules that prevent trans swimmers who have been through male puberty from competing in elite women's events.

Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer who sparked controversy during the 2022 season with her win at the NCAA championships, has lost a legal battle over rules that prevent trans swimmers who have been through male puberty from competing in elite women's events.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed Thomas' request for arbitration with World Aquatics, according to a ruling released Wednesday. The ruling essentially upholds the governing body in swimming's 2022 decision to ban transgender swimmers from competing in female events.

Thomas had asked the Switzerland-based court to overturn the rules, saying they were invalid, unlawful and discriminatory. However, the three-judge panel said she lacked standing to challenge the policy.

The ruling also squashes any hope Thomas had of making the Olympics. World Aquatics' policy for transgender athletes essentially bans any biological male athletes from competing in women's events unless they transitioned by the age of 12 or before undergoing "any part of male puberty."

The policy change was spurred by the International Olympic Committee's guidelines and recommendation in November 2021 that all international federations develop their own sport-specific eligibility criteria for the women's competition category.

In a statement, World Aquatics said it was "dedicated to fostering an environment that promotes fairness, respect, and equal opportunities for athletes of all genders." The organization said its gender inclusion policy represents "a fair approach."

Thomas did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Tyr LLP, which represented Thomas in the case, also did not respond to a request for comment.

The ruling has drawn mixed reactions. Some supporters of transgender rights have expressed disappointment, while others have welcomed the decision as a necessary step to protect women's sports.

The debate over transgender athletes in sports is a complex one with no easy answers. The CAS ruling is likely to further fuel the discussion, as both sides continue to argue their case.