Latest news with #U.S.MastersSwimming
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Texas AG Sues Swimming Group Over Transgender Athletes at Masters Meet
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. 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, 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.
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Texas attorney general sues adult swimming group for allowing transgender competitors
The Texas attorney general has sued an adult swimming program after two transgender women were allowed to compete at a meet this spring in San Antonio, with one placing first in several events. The suit alleged that U.S. Masters Swimming undermined the trust of consumers through 'false, deceptive, and misleading practices" because it said the other swimmers faced what it described as an unfair disadvantage in the Spring Nationals competition in April. U.S. Masters Swimming said in a statement that it has been cooperating fully with Attorney General Ken Paxton's investigation, which comes as a nationwide battle over the participation of transgender athletes has played out at both the state and federal levels. '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,' the statement said. Republicans have leveraged the issue as a fight for athletic fairness for women and girls. Paxton said in a news release Thursday that U.S. Masters Swimming "has deprived female participants of the opportunity to succeed at the highest levels by letting men win countless events.' The suit said Ana Caldas placed first in the five events in the 45-49 age group, and Jennifer Rines finished ahead of dozens of women. Rines wrote in a guest editorial in Swimming World in May that creating a separate category for transgender athletes might be the equitable solution for national-level events. But she said coming out as transgender carries the risk of losing jobs and friends. 'At what point does the level of competition justify forcing someone to out themselves or barring them from participation altogether?' she asked. Even before the suit was filed, U.S. Masters Swimming revised its policy to bar transgender women from receiving recognition for placing in women's events, but still allowing them to compete. But the suit said, 'This is all too little, too late.'
3 days ago
- Politics
Texas attorney general sues adult swimming group for allowing transgender competitors
The Texas attorney general has sued an adult swimming program after two transgender women were allowed to compete at a meet this spring in San Antonio, with one placing first in several events. The suit alleged that U.S. Masters Swimming undermined the trust of consumers through 'false, deceptive, and misleading practices" because it said the other swimmers faced what it described as an unfair disadvantage in the Spring Nationals competition in April. U.S. Masters Swimming said in a statement that it has been cooperating fully with Attorney General Ken Paxton's investigation, which comes as a nationwide battle over the participation of transgender athletes has played out at both the state and federal levels. '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,' the statement said. Republicans have leveraged the issue as a fight for athletic fairness for women and girls. Paxton said in a news release Thursday that U.S. Masters Swimming "has deprived female participants of the opportunity to succeed at the highest levels by letting men win countless events.' The suit said Ana Caldas placed first in the five events in the 45-49 age group, and Jennifer Rines finished ahead of dozens of women. Rines wrote in a guest editorial in Swimming World in May that creating a separate category for transgender athletes might be the equitable solution for national-level events. But she said coming out as transgender carries the risk of losing jobs and friends. 'At what point does the level of competition justify forcing someone to out themselves or barring them from participation altogether?' she asked. Even before the suit was filed, U.S. Masters Swimming revised its policy to bar transgender women from receiving recognition for placing in women's events, but still allowing them to compete. But the suit said, 'This is all too little, too late.' ___
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Texas attorney general sues adult swimming group for allowing transgender competitors
The Texas attorney general has sued an adult swimming program after two transgender women were allowed to compete at a meet this spring in San Antonio, with one placing first in several events. The suit alleged that U.S. Masters Swimming undermined the trust of consumers through 'false, deceptive, and misleading practices' because it said the other swimmers faced what it described as an unfair disadvantage in the Spring Nationals competition in April. U.S. Masters Swimming said in a statement that it has been cooperating fully with Attorney General Ken Paxton's investigation, which comes as a nationwide battle over the participation of transgender athletes has played out at both the state and federal levels. '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,' the statement said. Republicans have leveraged the issue as a fight for athletic fairness for women and girls. Paxton said in a news release Thursday that U.S. Masters Swimming 'has deprived female participants of the opportunity to succeed at the highest levels by letting men win countless events.' The suit said Ana Caldas placed first in the five events in the 45-49 age group, and Jennifer Rines finished ahead of dozens of women. Rines wrote in a guest editorial in Swimming World in May that creating a separate category for transgender athletes might be the equitable solution for national-level events. But she said coming out as transgender carries the risk of losing jobs and friends. 'At what point does the level of competition justify forcing someone to out themselves or barring them from participation altogether?' she asked. Even before the suit was filed, U.S. Masters Swimming revised its policy to bar transgender women from receiving recognition for placing in women's events, but still allowing them to compete. But the suit said, 'This is all too little, too late.' ___ AP sports:
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Texas attorney general sues adult swimming group for allowing transgender competitors
The Texas attorney general has sued an adult swimming program after two transgender women were allowed to compete at a meet this spring in San Antonio, with one placing first in several events. The suit alleged that U.S. Masters Swimming undermined the trust of consumers through 'false, deceptive, and misleading practices' because it said the other swimmers faced what it described as an unfair disadvantage in the Spring Nationals competition in April. U.S. Masters Swimming said in a statement that it has been cooperating fully with Attorney General Ken Paxton's investigation, which comes as a nationwide battle over the participation of transgender athletes has played out at both the state and federal levels. '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,' the statement said. Republicans have leveraged the issue as a fight for athletic fairness for women and girls. Paxton said in a news release Thursday that U.S. Masters Swimming 'has deprived female participants of the opportunity to succeed at the highest levels by letting men win countless events.' The suit said Ana Caldas placed first in the five events in the 45-49 age group, and Jennifer Rines finished ahead of dozens of women. Rines wrote in a guest editorial in Swimming World in May that creating a separate category for transgender athletes might be the equitable solution for national-level events. But she said coming out as transgender carries the risk of losing jobs and friends. 'At what point does the level of competition justify forcing someone to out themselves or barring them from participation altogether?' she asked. Even before the suit was filed, U.S. Masters Swimming revised its policy to bar transgender women from receiving recognition for placing in women's events, but still allowing them to compete. But the suit said, 'This is all too little, too late.' ___ AP sports: Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
