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Lia Thomas: Parents ask NCAA to change 'unfair rule', stop trans swimmer from competing

On December 3, Lia Thomas set a new record at the 500 yards freestyle swimming
UPDATED DEC 16, 2021
Lia Thomas of University of Pennsylvania (Penn Athletics)
Lia Thomas of University of Pennsylvania (Penn Athletics)

Parents of the members of the University of Pennsylvania women's swimming team have been demanding National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) not to permit transgender swimmers to compete in the championships. The parents have been particularly requesting it following the controversy surrounding Lia Thomas who won three events and set three new school records. On December 3, she set a new record at the 500 yards freestyle swimming.

The UPenn has a great women's swimming team and the parents of these swimmers have requested NCAA not to allow Lia to dominate the competition. They declared 'at stake here is the integrity of women's sports', according to the Daily Mail. Parents of ten swimmers have sent a letter to the NCAA and also forwarded it to the Ivy League and the University of Pennsylvania.

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In the letter, they wrote, "At stake here is the integrity of women's sports. The precedent being set- one in which women do not have a protected and equitable space to compete- is a direct threat to female athletes in every sport. What are the boundaries? How is this in line with the NCAA's commitment to providing a fair environment for student-athletes?"

Further, the parents continued, "It is the responsibility of the NCAA to address the matter with an official statement. As the governing body, it is unfair and irresponsible to leave the onus on Lia, Lia's teammates, Lia's coaches UPenn athletics, and the Ivy League. And it is unfair and irresponsible to Lia to allow the media to dictate the narrative without the participation of the NCAA."  The letter was sent on December 5 and NCAA has not responded to the letter yet. 



 

One parent said that they want to keep their identity a secret because of the repercussions on the parents and their children. "The swimmers have mixed feelings. Many of them want to speak up, but they don't because they believe they will be ostracized," the parent told the Daily Mail, adding that, "Everybody is scared. Parents are also scared that the kids will be harmed. We are paying $80,000 for this school. Their life will be impacted." 

Another parent told Daily Mail, "I think that transgender people have a right to compete, but they need to have their own league. Being fair to one group of people should not take rights away from another group and that's what's happening here." She added, "The NCAA obviously did not think much about the rules they set."

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