University of Pennsylvania Bans Trans Athletes Following Federal Pressure
The University of Pennsylvania has announced a ban on transgender women competing in women’s sports after reaching a compliance agreement with federal authorities, marking a significant shift in campus athletics policy under pressure from the Trump administration.
The agreement requires the university to adopt eligibility rules based on biological sex for women’s teams and to restore athletic records and titles to cisgender female athletes who competed against transgender athletes in past seasons. As part of the settlement, the university will issue formal apology letters to affected athletes and update official athletic records to reflect the changes.
University officials stated that the institution had previously followed NCAA and Title IX guidelines but agreed to adjust its policies to address concerns raised during the federal investigation. The administration emphasized its commitment to supporting female athletes while complying with updated federal interpretations of sex-based sports participation.
The decision comes amid a broader national debate over transgender inclusion in sports, reflecting tensions between efforts to ensure fair competition and the rights of transgender athletes.
With input from Al Jazeera.
