Three former University of Pennsylvania swimmers have filed a lawsuit demanding the removal of trans athlete Lia Thomas’ records. The lawsuit targets the NCAA, Harvard University, the Ivy League Council of Presidents, and the University of Pennsylvania but does not name Thomas herself. The plaintiffs claim they were “emotionally traumatized” and allege their privacy was violated. A class-action claim also represents 206 female athletes from the 2022 Ivy League Championships, arguing they were part of an “illegal social science experiment.”

The lawsuit coincides with Donald Trump signing an executive order banning transgender women from competing in female sports. Trump stated, “From now on, women’s sports will be only for women,” and criticized organizations for “prioritizing men’s feelings over fairness.” The order urges the International Olympic Committee to change its policies before the 2028 Games and enforces single-sex sports and changing rooms.

Thomas, who began hormone therapy in 2019, made history by winning the NCAA women’s 500-yard freestyle in 2022. A later rule banned athletes who “went through male puberty” from women’s races, preventing her from competing in the 2024 Olympics.

The NCAA responded, emphasizing its commitment to Title IX and fair competition, while Harvard declined to comment.