Texas AG starts probe into swimming group regarding transgender athlete

Texas AG Investigates Swimming Policy After Trans Athlete Wins

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated a survey related to US Masters Swimming following a recent event in San Antonio where a biologically male transgender swimmer triumphed in five women’s races. This incident took place at the end of April.

After the competition, several female participants expressed their surprise upon learning that the winning swimmer was a biological male. They were unaware of this fact prior to the event.

Paxton’s office is responding to this controversy as Texas law prohibits transgender athletes from competing in women’s and girls’ sports. “The United States Masters Swimming policy, which permits men to compete in women’s events, is problematic and might infringe upon Texas consumer protection laws,” remarked Paxton. He emphasized that this policy undermines female athletes and reflects poorly on women’s sports. Paxton committed to challenging such unfair practices.

The transgender swimmer, a 47-year-old named Anacarda, won gold medals in five women’s categories, including 50 and 100-yard breaststroke and freestyle events.

Wendy Enderle, a long-time swimmer from Louisiana, stated that she requested an eligibility review after discovering the gender identity of a competitor whom she’d faced multiple times. She expressed relief over Paxton’s investigation into US Masters Swimming.

Enderle stated, “I was very encouraged by Paxton’s decision to look into the unfair competition that transpired in San Antonio last month.” She also urged other female swimmers to voice their concerns and file complaints regarding such experiences, saying, “I feel betrayed.”

Enderle hopes for further action from the U.S. Department of Justice. There has been an executive order in place since February 5, prohibiting publicly funded organizations from allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports. However, US Masters Swimming is not publicly funded and thus may not fall directly under this order.

“We hope that US Masters Swimming will adopt fairer policies compatible with global aquatic standards,” Enderle added. “It’s my personal view that USMS may be violating the executive order since it functions as a governing body in the sport.”

In June 2023, Texas implemented the Save Women’s Sports Act, which prohibits transgender athletes from participating in women’s competitions outside of what is listed on their original birth certificates, with some stipulations regarding administrative errors.

Additionally, the Texas Senate recently passed the Texas Women’s Privacy Act, further ensuring protections for women in access to bathrooms, showers, and shelters.

Currently, US Masters Swimming permits transgender swimmers to participate in categories congruent with their identified gender provided certain conditions are met—namely documenting a year of uninterrupted hormone therapy and maintaining testosterone levels below a specified threshold.

Without meeting these criteria, trans swimmers can still compete in the women’s category, but their times will be stripped of any official recognition.