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The University of Pennsylvania took rapid measures on Tuesday to join the resolution agreement concluded with the Office of the US Department of Civil Rights after a survey revealed that Upenn had violated title IX during the 2021-22 season due to the inclusion of the Transgender Swimmer Lia Thomas.
As part of this resolution, Upenn agreed to restore individual titles and records to female athletes who were “diverted by male athletes authorized to participate in female categories”.
The Transgender Lia Thomas swimmer, on the left, of the University of Pennsylvania is on the podium after winning the 500 yarn yard as other medalists, from left to right, Emma Weyant, Erica Sullivan and Brooke Forde for a photo at the NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championship on March 17, 202222 at NCAA. (Justin Casterline / Getty Images)
However, although the University’s website has been updated to remove the name of Thomas from a record trio that the former swimmer established during this season, the website has always recognized the record of Thomas with a note concerning the NCAA eligibility rules at the time.
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“Note: in competition in the eligibility rules in force at the time, Lia Thomas established program records in the 100, 200 and 500 freestyle during the 2021-22 season,” said the annotation.
Thomas has become the first openly transgender athlete to win a title in Division I of the NCAA. During the competition, Thomas established several individual records, notably the race of 500 Northern yards which led to a national title.
According to Upenn’s website, Anna Kalandadze’s record of 4: 37.21 established in 2024 to 500 free was restored as a new record. Kayla Fu, a first -year student in Upenn, obtained her 2025 record in the 100 free free as a new record.
The transgender athlete Lia Thomas looks after winning the 500 meter freestyle female during the women’s swimming and diving championship of the NCAA Division I 2022 at the McAuley Aquatic Center on the Georgia Institute of Technology campus on March 17, 2022 in Atlanta. (Photos Mike Comer / NCAA via Getty Images)
Sec McMahon opens with the historic agreement of the Upenn Title IX and the next steps in the fight to save female sports
In addition, the former swimmer of Upenn Virginia Burns, who set the free record of 200 with a time of 1: 45.51 in 2017, had her record restored as a Top Time.
The Department of Education previously launched an investigation into UPENN on February 6. The Trump administration then frozen $ 175 million in school funding on March 20 so that they did not meet a decree. Then, on April 28, the Office of Civil Rights of the Department of Education announced that its investigation concluded that Upenn had violated title IX in its management of the situation of Thomas.
Following this week’s resolution agreement, UPENN agreed to restore records and emit apologies to the female athletes affected by these violations.
The Pennsylvania Lia Thomas delights the teammates in competition in the free final of 1650 yards at the Ivy League swimming and diving championships at Harvard on Saturday, February 19, 2022 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (AP photo / Mary Schwalm)
“While Penn’s policies during the 2021-2022 swimming season were in accordance with the NCAA eligibility rules at the time, we recognize that some student-athletes were disadvantaged by these rules,” Penn president J. Larry Jameson said in a statement published by the University.
“We recognize this and we will excuse those who have experienced competitive disadvantage or anxiety experienced due to the policies in force at the time.”
