Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on Thursday that he is filing a lawsuit against US Masters Swimming (USMS), which has over 60,000 adult members involved in competitive swimming.
The lawsuit was prompted by a recent event in San Antonio where a transgender athlete, assigned male at birth, won five gold medals in women’s categories.
After the competition, several female swimmers shared that they were not aware of the athlete’s biological background. Paxton stated, “I am suing swimming for participating in illegal practices by allowing men to compete in women’s competition.” He went on to argue that the organization collaborates with activists who he believes promote divisive gender issues, and he aims to hold USMS accountable for its actions.
Paxton’s comments suggest that USMS is engaging in “false, deceptive, and misleading practices” by allowing men to take part in women’s events. USMS has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the lawsuit.
In June 2023, Texas enacted the Save Women’s Sports Act, which restricts transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports based solely on their identity. This law stipulates that students can only compete according to the gender indicated on their birth certificate, though it acknowledges corrections for administrative errors.
Back in April, following the incident, Paxton initiated an investigation into USMS. The transgender swimmer, known as Anacarda, 47, won gold in the 45-49 age group for all five events, including the 50 and 100-yard breaststroke, freestyle, and individual medley.
A swimmer from Louisiana, Wendy Endere, stated she requested a review of eligibility after learning about Anacarda’s transgender status through news coverage. She expressed feeling “betrayed,” noting that she only discovered this information after the competition. When she first met Anacarda, Endere had assumed she was competing against a biological female.
Endere recalled, “I sensed something was different, but I never imagined she was a trans woman until after the competition. I was just—shocked, to say the least. It makes me worried, and it honestly makes me angry.”
Another swimmer, Angie Griffin, also competed alongside Anacarda in April without knowing her background. This revelation prompted Griffin to file formal complaints with USMS, urging the organization to reassess the outcomes of the national championship and rethink its gender eligibility policies.
In her racing experience, Griffin noted that it was troubling to think about the integrity of competitive sports being compromised. She asked, “Why isn’t USMS adhering to the same regulations as the NCAA and other sporting bodies? It feels unfair.” Griffin emphasized her investment—financially and emotionally—in competing as a biological female and emphasized that she deserved transparency prior to competing.
Recently, the US Masters Swimming Board of Directors updated their participation guidelines. The new policies allow members to register in categories that correspond to their gender identity while competing in approved events. However, some stipulations remain; swimmers are not recognized for awards unless they participate in categories aligned with their sex assigned at birth or meet specific eligibility criteria.
To qualify for the Women’s Recognition Program at USMS, it is stated that “female sex members are entitled to the Women’s Category Recognition Program, regardless of gender identity or expression.” Additionally, those with specific intersex conditions whose gender identity aligns as female may also qualify under certain guidelines.
