Editor of world-famous magazine compares transgender swimmer advantage with doping


Editor of world-famous magazine compares transgender swimmer advantage with doping

John Lohn and Lia Thomas

The ongoing fiasco over the participation of the transgender swimmer, Lia Thomas in women’s competition, has ignited another controversy. This took place when the editor-in-chief of one of the most highly read swimming magazines, Swimming World, said that the University of Pennsylvania swimmer has the same advantages that ‘doping’ provides other athletes. 

ADVERTISEMENT

In his latest opinion article, John Lohn, chief of Swimming World, made these remarks on Thomas, who broke records in a women’s competition. Notably, the transgender swimmer recently dominated at the Zippy Invitational at the University of Akron, including the 500-yard freestyle preliminaries and finals. She went on to earn a winning time of 4:34.06 in the finals, which is the new Ivy League record.

“The newest predicament facing the sport is not one of rampant doping, but a complex scenario with an outcome that could be as damning. Yes, we’re discussing the Lia Thomas saga – again. It’s a debate not soon to go away, and with each passing day toward the NCAA Championships in March, the potential of Thomas racing for a Division I crown becomes a more pressing issue,” John Lohn wrote magazine’s Sunday edition. 

“Thomas benefited from testosterone naturally produced by her body”

Lia Thomas
Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas

The magazine chief further went on to reckon that although Thomas has taken the hormone suppressants, her male-puberty advantage has not been rolled back. He also talked about the muscle, strength and testosterone production in her body over the years.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Despite the hormone suppressants she has taken, in accordance with NCAA guidelines, Thomas’ male-puberty advantage has not been rolled back an adequate amount. The fact is, for nearly 20 years, she built muscle and benefited from the testosterone naturally produced by her body. That strength does not disappear overnight, nor with a year’s worth of suppressants. Consequently, Thomas dives into the water with an inherent advantage over those on the surrounding blocks,” he added.

Also Read | Pennsylvania women’s swimming team speak out against ‘unfair situation’ over Lia Thomas’ presence and her ‘clear physical advantage’