The University of Pennsylvania has violated Title IX by allowing transgender-identifying males to compete in women’s athletics, according to a federal investigation concluded by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
The decision marks a major shift in the national Title IX debate, as the Biden-era emphasis on gender identity gives way to a biology-based approach under President Trump.
Violation Rooted in Unequal Opportunity
The federal probe centered on UPenn’s policy permitting biological males who identify as transgender women to participate in women’s sports and access female-only spaces, including locker rooms.
Investigators determined the policy denied female athletes equal opportunity — a core violation of Title IX. The report cited peer-reviewed studies documenting significant biological differences between the sexes in strength, speed, and endurance.
Mandated Changes and Public Accountability
As part of its resolution with the Department of Education, Fox News reports that UPenn was required to reinstate the records and achievements of displaced female athletes, strip Lia Thomas of her titles, and recommit to compliance with federal law.
One prominent female athlete who helped nationalize the transgender athlete debate found herself in a war of words with a former ESPN host following the decision.
Fox continues:
Riley Gaines and Keith Olbermann were at it again on social media this week after the ex-ESPN host took aim at the former University of Kentucky swimmer following the resolution agreement between the University of Pennsylvania and the Education Department that resulted in the school stripping program records previously held by transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.
Olbermann posted a message on X on Tuesday calling Gaines “whiny” in response to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announcement that it had reached an agreement with UPenn following its investigation into Title IX violations that centered on Thomas’ participation on the women’s swimming team during the 2021-22 season.
“Wanted to congratulate Whiny Gaines on now being able to say she finished tied for FOURTH not tied for FIFTH in the Lia Thomas race,” Olbermann wrote in his post, referencing the 2022 NCAA Division I swimming championships when Gaines tied with Thomas for fifth place in the 200 free.
Gaines, the host of OutKick’s “Gaines for Girls” podcast and a 12-time NCAA All-American swimmer, responded promptly to Olbermann’s slight and reminded the ex-ESPN host that Thomas ranked lower in the men’s competition before transitioning to the women’s team.
Backed by Executive Action
The development follows a February executive order from President Trump directing the Department of Education to pull federal funding from institutions that allow biological males to compete in female divisions or use women’s facilities.
It aligns with a growing federal effort to restore women’s sports as single-sex spaces. A similar decision was issued recently in California, prompting many schools nationwide to revisit their own policies.