In a recent ruling, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed Lia Thomas' attempt to challenge the policies set by World Aquatics for transgender athletes. Thomas, a transgender woman who previously competed on the University of Pennsylvania swim team, argued that the rules were discriminatory and took legal action against them earlier this year. However, the court determined that Thomas is not entitled to challenge the rules as she is not sufficiently affected by them.

According to the CAS ruling obtained by CBS News, Thomas has not registered to compete in any World Aquatics events and is no longer a member of US Swimming. The court stated that Thomas is "not sufficiently affected by the rules" and therefore cannot challenge them.

Under the policies established by World Aquatics, transgender women can compete in their events under certain conditions. These conditions include not experiencing male puberty or having their male puberty suppressed before the age of 12, as well as consistently maintaining testosterone levels below 2.5nmol/L. USA Swimming also has its own policy which states that transgender women must have less than 5 nmol/L of testosterone consistently for 36 months before they can compete at elite levels.

In 2022, World Aquatics voted to prevent transgender women who have gone through any male puberty from participating in elite events. While Thomas filed a challenge to this ruling earlier this year, the court acknowledged her acceptance of fair competition as a legitimate sporting objective. However, they deemed the provisions she was challenging as valid and lawful, suggesting that they do not discriminate against her.

The issue of transgender athletes in women's sports has sparked debate among various individuals, including athletes and non-athletes. While some teammates and institutions, such as the University of Pennsylvania and the Ivy League, have shown support for Thomas, others have voiced concerns about the fairness of competing against transgender women.

Prominent figures like Martina Navratilova and Caitlyn Jenner have expressed their opinions on the matter. Navratilova argued that it is not fair for women to compete against transgender athletes, while Jenner emphasized the importance of protecting women's sports. On the other hand, Schuyler Bailar, the first openly transgender athlete to compete on a NCAA Division 1 men's team, has stood in support of Thomas, highlighting that the perception of trans women destroying women's sports is false.

Despite the backlash Thomas has faced, she has also received positive and sympathetic messages. Bailar emphasized that there is a desire to police the women's category and dictate what constitutes womanhood, leading to the policing of transgender women.

As of now, CBS News has reached out to World Aquatics, CAS, and Thomas' attorney for further comments or statements regarding the dismissal of Thomas' challenge.