World Aquatics has banned transgender swimmer Ana Caldas from competing in the organization’s events for a decade and stripped her of all results from June 2022 to October 2024. The decision follows her refusal to undergo a sex verification test, which the organization says she violated by providing false information and misrepresenting her gender eligibility. The sanction was imposed due to her violation of the World Aquatics integrity code, which includes rules related to defining the criteria for men’s and women’s competition categories.
Caldas drew national scrutiny in May after winning five gold medals at a U.S. Masters Swimming event in San Antonio, Texas, prompting outcry from some of her opponents. Caldas dominated in the women’s age 45-49 category in five races, including the 50- and 100-yard breaststroke, the freestyle and the 100-yard individual medley. Louisiana woman and long-time swimmer Wendy Enderle, who competed against Caldas at that event and previous ones, said she felt ‘betrayed’ because she had never been made aware of Caldas’ birth sex. Enderle provided a statement to Fox News Digital addressing World Aquatics’ decision to ban Caldas until 2030, applauding the organization’s decision to uphold fairness and integrity in competitive swimming. She expressed vindication for herself and for all girls and women who have been forced to compete against men masquerading as women in their sports.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched a lawsuit against USMS in July over the San Antonio incident, accusing the organization of engaging in illegal practices by allowing men to compete in women’s competitions. Paxton said that the organization has cowered to radical activists pushing gender warfare and that this lawsuit will hold USMS accountable for its actions. The case highlights the ongoing legal and social debates over transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports, with opponents arguing that such participation undermines the competitive fairness of these events.
World Aquatics changed its gender eligibility policy in 2022, limiting the participation of transgender women in the women’s category to those who transitioned before the age of 12 or before reaching Tanner Stage 2 of puberty. This policy change reflects growing concerns over the physiological advantages that individuals who have transitioned from male to female may possess, as well as the broader debate over the rights of transgender individuals in competitive sports.