In response to the NCAA’s recently updated transgender policy, Lia Thomas’ teammates have spoken out against her.
Sixteen members of the University of Pennsylvania’s women’s swimming team, in a letter sent Thursday to school and Ivy League officials, asked that they not take legal action challenging the recent policy change. The updated NCAA policy has the power to remove Thomas, a transgender woman, from competing at next month’s NCAA championships.
Thomas competed for the Penn men’s team for three seasons before undergoing more than two years of hormone replacement therapy as part of her transition. She now competes on the Penn women’s swim team, and has dominated NCAA competition: She has posted the fastest times of any female college swimmer in two separate events this season.
Thomas’ dominance in the women’s field has sparked debate about competitive fairness within the Quakers’ team and throughout the sport.