(ReliableNews.org) – On March 17, University of Pennsylvania’s Lia Thomas won the NCAA women’s 500-yard freestyle swimming event. She became the first transgender woman to win an NCAA championship. Not everyone was happy about her win. One governor refuses to recognize it at all.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed a proclamation announcing he would be recognizing Sarasota-native Emma Weyant, a student at the University of Virginia, as the real winner. Weyant came in second place at the NCAA event. She’s also a 2020 Olympic Silver Medalist for the USA Swim Team. DeSantis said the college sports organization is “making a mockery of its championships” and accused it of “perpetuating a fraud” by allowing a biological male to compete in women’s sports.
By allowing men to compete in women's sports, the NCAA is destroying opportunities for women, making a mockery of its championships, and perpetuating a fraud.
In Florida, we reject these lies and recognize Sarasota's Emma Weyant as the best women's swimmer in the 500y freestyle. pic.twitter.com/tBmFxFE3q6
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 22, 2022
During a press conference on Tuesday, March 22, DeSantis said the NCAA is “trying to undermine the integrity of the competition.”
JUST NOW: @GovRonDeSantis says he will sign a "proclamation" naming @UVA and @USASwimming Olympian @emmaweyant the "best female swimmer" of the women's 500-yard freestyle.
DeSantis said the @NCAA is "perpetuating fraud" & "trying to undermine the integrity of the competition" pic.twitter.com/wt6I058ILp
— Evan Donovan (@EvanDonovan) March 22, 2022
The NCAA requires male-to-female transgender athletes to take testosterone suppression medication for one year before they can compete on a female team. Thomas reportedly began undergoing hormone replacement therapy in 2019. Despite the therapy, Champion Women CEO Nancy Hogshead-Makar told Fox News it’s “not possible…to roll back male puberty.”
Do you think Ron DeSantis made the right decision?
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