U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has called for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to strip transgender athletes, including Lia Thomas, of their titles. This follows Trump’s signing of an executive order on February 5, banning trans women from competing in women’s sporting events.
Trump’s Department of Education has urged the NCAA to retroactively revoke records and awards earned by trans athletes. According to a letter obtained by the Daily Caller, the department stated: “The NCAA and NFHS [National Federation of State High School Associations] must not only prospectively protect female categories in sports, but also restore to female athletes all records, titles, awards, and recognitions wrongfully credited to male athletes.”
The letter also calls for the NCAA to incorporate language from Trump’s executive order, titled Protecting Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth, to eliminate policies that allow trans women to compete in female categories.
Lia Thomas, who made history in 2022 as the first trans woman to win a top national college swimming championship, has faced significant scrutiny from gender-critical figures, including fellow trans woman and former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner. Jenner previously stated that allowing Thomas to compete in women’s sports was “unfair.”
Thomas has defended trans athletes’ right to compete, stating: “Trans people don’t transition for athletics. We transition to be happy and authentic and our true selves.”
The move has reignited debates over the inclusion of transgender athletes in competitive sports, with advocacy groups arguing that such policies undermine trans rights, while opponents claim they aim to protect fairness in women’s sports. The NCAA has yet to issue a response to the request.