Lia Thomas 'ordered' to compete with men? Ruling didn't say that | Fact check
The claim: Post implies Lia Thomas Olympic ban requires her to compete with men going forward
A June 22 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) shows a picture of competitive transgender swimmer Lia Thomas next to another photo of retired Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps.
"Lia Thomas Banned from 2024 Olympics, Ordered to Compete with Men," text under the image reads.
Social media users took the post to mean Thomas had been ordered to compete exclusively with men in the future.
Another said, "Best news ever! Lets see how great 'she' is competing with men."
The post was shared more than 1,000 times in eight days.
More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page
Our rating: Missing context
The implied claim is wrong. Thomas lost a legal challenge in June that would have potentially reversed a standing policy that prevents her from competing in the Olympics. But she was not ordered to compete with men going forward.
Thomas challenged ban against transgender athletes at the elite level
Thomas became the first transgender woman to win an NCAA swimming championship when she did so in March 2022 while competing for the University of Pennsylvania. She has since become a central figure in the national discussion about transgender people in sports.
Thomas has said she wants to compete in the Olympics, but World Aquatics, the governing body of world swimming otherwise known as FINA, effectively banned trans athletes in 2022 from competing at elite levels like the Olympics. The organization said only those who transitioned before the age of 12 would be allowed to compete in women's events.
James Pearce, spokesperson for FINA President Husain Al-Musallam, addressed the measure in a previously reported statement.
"This is not saying that people are encouraged to transition by the age of 12. It’s what the scientists are saying, that if you transition after the start of puberty, you have an advantage, which is unfair," Pearce said.
News broke in January 2024 that Thomas was challenging World Aqautics' ruling with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, based in Switzerland. However, the court dismissed her request on June 12 after determining she did not have standing. She therefore remains barred from competing at the Olympics.
Thomas can only compete in USA Swimming events that are not "Elite Events" like the Olympics, the court's ruling stated.
But the decision said nothing about requiring her to compete against males, and there are no credible news reports about her being ordered to compete against males.
USA Swimming allows trans women to compete in women's events if they meet certain requirements.
Fact check: Israel not 'out' of Olympics, is sending 85 athletes to Paris
Thomas called the CAS decision "deeply disappointing," according to a statement her legal team provided to Athlete Ally.
USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
PolitiFact also fact-checked the claim.
Our fact-check sources:
NBC News, Jan. 26, Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas has mounted a legal challenge against World Aquatics
FINA, accessed June 28, Policy on eligibility for the men's and women's competition categories
Athlete Ally, June 12, Athlete Ally Responds to CAS Decision on World Aquatics Trans Ban
Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here.
USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Court ban did not order Lia Thomas to compete with men | Fact check
