Texas AG Sues Swimming Group Over Transgender Athletes at Masters Meet
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS), alleging the organization engaged in "deceptive practices" by allowing transgender women to compete in women's events at a San Antonio meet this spring.
Newsweek reached out to Paxton's office and USMS via email on Saturday for comment.
Why It Matters
This legal action represents the latest escalation in a nationwide debate over transgender athlete participation in competitive sports, occurring alongside intensified federal action under President Donald Trump's administration.
The lawsuit could set precedent for how consumer protection laws are applied to sports organizations' policies regarding transgender athletes, potentially influencing similar cases across the country.
What To Know
The suit specifically references the Spring Nationals competition in April, where transgender swimmer Ana Caldas placed first in five events in the 45-49 age group, and Jennifer Rines finished ahead of dozens of women competitors.
The lawsuit claims USMS undermined consumer trust through "false, deceptive, and misleading practices" by creating what Paxton describes as an unfair competitive disadvantage for other female swimmers.
The lawsuit alleges that female participants were "deprived of the opportunity to succeed at the highest levels" when competing against transgender women. Paxton's office characterized the situation as allowing "men to win countless events," reflecting the state's position that biological sex should determine competitive categories.
This legal challenge comes amid broader federal action targeting transgender athletes. In February, Trump signed an executive order intended to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports. The administration has also threatened to withhold federal funding from states that don't comply with these directives.
The policy debate recently escalated in California where Trump threatened "large scale fines" against Governor Gavin Newsom after 16-year-old transgender athlete AB Hernandez won gold in high jump and triple jump at the state high school championship. The California Interscholastic Federation subsequently changed its rules to allow more cisgender girls to compete and medal in events where transgender athletes participate.
USMS had already begun revising its policies before the Texas lawsuit was filed. The organization now bars transgender women from receiving official recognition for placing in women's events while still allowing them to participate in competitions. However, the lawsuit dismisses these changes as "too little, too late."
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is seen in the East Room of the White House on March 20 in Washington, D.C.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is seen in the East Room of the White House on March 20 in Washington, D.C.What People Are Saying
USMS released a Facebook statement on Friday: "The Texas Office of the Attorney General notified U.S. Masters Swimming on May 19 that it was conducting an investigation into policies pertaining to transgender athlete participation in USMS competitions. USMS has been cooperating fully with the investigation and has been working with the Texas Office of the Attorney General to hopefully reach an agreement about the policy. USMS implemented an interim eligibility policy on July 1 in response to feedback from our members and the Attorney General's office and in line with our partnership with World Aquatics, which USMS is a member federation of."
"USMS surprisingly learned yesterday via social media that the Texas Office of the Attorney General filed a lawsuit against USMS and the five LMSCs that operate in the State of Texas. USMS is currently reviewing the allegations. To be clear, under USMS's policy (which aligns with World Aquatics policy), trans women are not eligible to receive records, Top 10 times, or awards in the women's category at all USMS-sanctioned events, and trans men are eligible for those competitive recognition programs in the men's category. Moreover, trans women swimming in the women's category do not displace other women from participating or receiving recognition in any USMS event. USMS policies referenced have been publicly posted on our website since 2012 and are outlined in our annually published Code of Regulations. More information about USMS's interim eligibility policy can be found in our FAQs."
The statement concluded: "USMS is a national nonprofit community of adult swimmers focused on health and fitness. It is deeply disappointing to see our organization and individual members publicly targeted in a lawsuit that appears to be more about generating headlines than seeking justice. USMS will continue to cooperate fully with the Texas Office of the Attorney General and to uphold the values that have guided our community for more than 50 years."
What Happens Next?
USMS says it will continue cooperating with the attorney general's investigation while defending its policies in court.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
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