The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) has entered into a formal agreement with the U.S. Department of Education to resolve findings that the university violated federal law by allowing a biologically male athlete to compete in women’s sports and use female-only locker room facilities.
This action follows an investigation by the Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which determined that UPenn’s policies and practices violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
What is Title IX?
Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any educational program or activity that receives federal funding. It ensures that male and female students are given equal opportunities, particularly in academics and athletics.
The investigation centered around the case of Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer who was allowed to compete on the UPenn Women’s Swimming and Diving Team. OCR found that this decision unfairly affected female athletes and violated their rights under Title IX.
Who is Lia Thomas?
Lia Thomas is a swimmer from Austin, Texas, who made national headlines as the first openly transgender athlete to win a Division I women’s swimming title, the 500-yard freestyle in 2022. Originally competing on the University of Pennsylvania’s men’s swim team, she began transitioning in 2019 and later joined the women’s team in 2021.
Her participation sparked intense public debate, with critics, including former President Donald Trump and several Republican leaders, arguing it created an unfair playing field for female athletes.
Although Thomas received support from some teammates, others expressed concern that her inclusion in women’s events affected competitive fairness.
The university has committed to the following actions:
As part of the resolution, UPenn has agreed to several corrective actions. These include publicly affirming that it will not allow male athletes to compete in women’s sports or access female-only intimate facilities.
The university will also reinstate records, titles, and awards to female athletes that were lost due to the participation of a male athlete in women’s categories.
Because of that, UPenn will send a personalized letter of apology to each impacted female swimmer and post a public statement on its websites affirming its commitment to sex-based definitions in athletics.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon praised the agreement, calling it a great victory for women and girls and credited the Trump Administration’s leadership for defending the original intent of Title IX.
“Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, UPenn has agreed both to apologize for its past Title IX violations and to ensure that women’s sports are protected at the University for future generations of female athletes,” she added.
Former UPenn swimmer Paula Scanlan, who previously spoke out about her experience sharing locker rooms with a transgender teammate, said she is deeply grateful for the outcome.
"Today marks a momentous step in repairing the past mistreatment of female athletes, and forging a future where sex discrimination plays no role in limiting girls’ potential,” she said.
The Department of Education opened the investigation in February 2025, and concluded in April that UPenn’s actions had violated the rights of female athletes. The university faced potential legal action but opted to voluntarily resolve the matter by signing the OCR’s proposed agreement.
Title IX, passed in 1972, was designed to ensure that no student would face discrimination based on sex in any school or program that receives federal money.
Over the decades, it has been especially impactful in expanding opportunities for women and girls in sports. However, recent debates over how Title IX applies to transgender participation have brought national attention to how schools interpret and enforce the law.
Shahriena Shukri is a journalist covering business and economic news in Malaysia, providing insights on market trends, corporate developments, and financial policies. More about Shahriena Shukri.
