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Lia Thomas Olympic dream dashed by court

The dream of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas to defeat more biological female competition was dashed after the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected a challenge from Thomas that would have allowed the athlete to compete in elite competitions for women.

Thomas, a biological man who identifies as female, requested the Switzerland-based court repudiate the current policy that denies Thomas access to competing in “elite” women’s races, including the Olympics, according to a Wednesday report.

An arbitration panel then ruled that Thomas did not meet the standards to appeal the policy, which was established by World Aquatics, because “for the time being,” the policy does not apply to the athlete, the report noted.

“[Thomas] is currently only entitled to compete in USA Swimming events that do not qualify as ‘Elite Events,'” the arbitral award stated.

Thomas became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship in March 2022 while competing for the University of Pennsylvania.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Riley Gaines, one of the biological women who competed against Thomas, celebrated the the decision by the court.

“Great news! Lia Thomas won’t be able to compete in women’s category at the Olympics or any other elite competition,” Gaines posted to X. “He has just lost his legal battle in Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling. This is a victory for women and girls everywhere.”

FILE - Pennsylvania's Lia Thomas waits for results after swimming the women's 200 freestyle final at the NCAA swimming and diving championships, Friday, March 18, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas has asked a Swiss sports court to overturn rules imposed by the World Aquatics governing body which stop her competing in elite women’s races. The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 it has registered Thomas’ request but no date for a hearing was decided. Confidentiality around a case begun in September was lifted after it was reported in British media. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File) (John Bazemore)
FILE – Pennsylvania’s Lia Thomas waits for results after swimming the women’s 200 freestyle final at the NCAA swimming and diving championships, Friday, March 18, 2022, at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas has asked a Swiss sports court to overturn rules imposed by the World Aquatics governing body which stop her competing in elite women’s races. The Court of Arbitration for Sport said Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 it has registered Thomas’ request but no date for a hearing was decided. Confidentiality around a case begun in September was lifted after it was reported in British media. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File) (John Bazemore)
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