In a landmark victory for women’s sports and common sense, the University of Pennsylvania has been forced to strip transgender swimmer Lia Thomas of her Ivy League titles after bowing to pressure from the Trump administration’s Department of Education. This comes after a thorough investigation by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) found that UPenn violated Title IX by allowing a biological male to compete in female athletic programs—and even use female-only locker rooms and facilities.
The OCR’s findings confirmed what many conservatives and fair-play advocates have been saying for years: letting biological males compete in women’s sports not only breaks the law, it robs female athletes of their rightful victories and opportunities. As a result, UPenn is now issuing formal apologies to every female competitor who lost out to Thomas during her controversial reign.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon hailed the resolution agreement as a shining example of the “Trump effect” in action. She emphasized that under President Trump’s leadership, universities can no longer ignore the rights of biological women. “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,” McMahon stated.
The agreement goes beyond just revoking titles. UPenn must now adopt biology-based definitions of “male” and “female” under Title IX. The university will also publicly commit to never again allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports or to access women-only locker rooms—steps that many saw as long overdue.
This decision has been welcomed by female athletes who were directly impacted by the inclusion of trans athletes like Thomas in women’s competitions. Paula Scanlan, a former University of Pennsylvania swimmer, spoke out in support of the move. “As a former UPenn swimmer who had to compete against and share a locker room with a male athlete, I am deeply grateful to the Trump Administration for refusing to back down on protecting women and girls and restoring our rightful accolades,” Scanlan said. “I am also pleased that my alma mater has finally agreed to take not only the lawful path, but the honorable one.”
Similarly, Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer and vocal advocate for women’s sports fairness, applauded the ruling. “It is my hope that today demonstrates to educational institutions that they will no longer be allowed to trample upon women’s civil rights, and renews hope in every female athlete that their country’s highest leadership will not relent until they have the dignity, safety, and fairness they deserve,” Gaines said.
For years, left-wing activists and the so-called “woke” establishment have pushed policies that put biological males in women’s sports, undermining Title IX protections designed to create a level playing field for female athletes. This latest move by the Trump administration is a decisive step toward reversing those dangerous policies and restoring fairness in college athletics.
The UPenn case sends a strong message to universities nationwide: the era of sacrificing women’s sports on the altar of political correctness is coming to an end. Biological reality matters, and the rights of female athletes deserve respect and protection. Thanks to the Trump administration’s steadfast commitment, female athletes across the country can breathe a little easier knowing their hard work and achievements will finally be honored.
