Now 'Swimming World' editor compares Lia Thomas to a 'doped' athlete, slams NCAA
John Lohn, the editor-in-chief of Swimming World, one of the United States' most respected swimming magazines heavily criticized the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) decision to let University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, a transgender to compete on the women's team, pointing out that she had advantages similar to doping.
After undergoing the required one year of testosterone suppressant use, Thomas is now eligible under NCAA rules to compete in collegiate competitions as part of the women’s program. However, Lohn alleged in an op-ed published Sunday, December 19, that the collegiate sports authority's one-year suppressant requirement is "not nearly stringent enough to create a level playing field between Thomas and the biological females against whom she is racing." His argument was that Thomas has been naturally producing testosterone in her body for nearly 20 years, which enables men in muscle building and other physical benefits, which cannot be countered with just a year's worth of suppressants. He said that her hormonal advantages would not be dissimilar to women who take steroids.
READ MORE
Lia Thomas: Outrage as UPenn trans swimmer breaks women's records after transitioning from male
What is Policy 8040? School board meeting over new trans rules ends in parents' arrests
'Thomas dives into the water with an inherent advantage'
"Despite the hormone suppressants she has taken, in accordance with NCAA guidelines, Thomas’ male-puberty advantage has not been rolled back an adequate amount," Lohn penned. "Consequently, Thomas dives into the water with an inherent advantage over those on the surrounding blocks." Before transitioning to female and becoming eligible to join the women's team, Thomas was a member of the men’s squad at Penn for three years. Being born male offers her a "clear-cut edge over the biological females against whom she is competing," specifically when it comes to strength," Lohn noted. "She is stronger. It is that simple. And this strength is beneficial to her stroke, on turns, and to her endurance. Doping has the same effect," the editor wrote.
He then went on to compare Thomas' strength to that of Olympic swimmers like Kornelia Ender, Kristin Otto, and Michelle Smith, all of whom were accused of using performance-enhancing substances during competitions. "Flashback to the 1970s and 1980s. When the likes of Ender and Otto powered through the water, en route to Olympic titles, they enjoyed a massive advantage over the competition. Babashoff couldn’t keep up. Neither could Brigitha. Why?" questioned Lohn. "They were competing against women who were fed steroids and reaped the rewards – most notably enhanced strength. Thomas enjoys similar advantages." He added that testosterone suppressants only account for an approximate 2 to 3 percent change in performance while the time difference between male and female swimming records is around 11 percent.
Lohn: NCAA 'turned a blind eye to the situation'
The editor also went after the NCAA directly, alleging that the organization, "turned a blind eye to the situation," as they did with doping athletes. "Although positive tests were not typically returned, it didn’t take a genius to recognize that doping was at play. Administrators and referees swallowed their words, afraid of being branded for taking an accusatory stance"' he said of the organization's past record. "The NCAA, it can be argued, has taken that same approach via its lax requirements related to transgender females... The NCAA needs to act, and it needs to act quickly,' he said. 'This scenario – with the effects of doping – cannot linger. For the good of the sport, and for fairness to those competing as biological women, a ruling must come down soon."
He also rebuked Thomas for being in denial about the natural advantages she allegedly has over her opponents. "According to NCAA rules, Thomas has met expectations for participation. But for Thomas to suggest she does not have a significant advantage, as she did in one interview, is preposterous at best, and denial at worst," Lohn wrote. "Sure, it is on the NCAA to adjust its bylaws in the name of fair competition for the thousands of swimmers who compete at the collegiate level. It is also on Thomas to acknowledge her edge."