U.S. Masters Swimming Faces Threat from Florida Attorney General Due to Transgender Athlete Policy
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has called for stricter policies from the U.S. Masters Swimming organization regarding transgender athletes competing in women's sports. In a letter sent to the organization's CEO, Dawson Hughes, Uthmeier demands that the organization unequivocally blocks transgender athletes—biological males—from competing in women's events.
Uthmeier argues that the current policy, which allows transgender athletes to compete in events aligning with their gender identity but not receive awards or rankings, is insufficient and violates Florida law. To comply, U.S. Masters Swimming would need to exclude transgender athletes from competing in women's categories unless they meet specific eligibility criteria tied to their sex assigned at birth.
Moreover, Uthmeier insists that only biological females should be eligible for women's recognition programs, regardless of gender identity or expression. He believes that the current policy, which states that "Members of the Female Sex are eligible for Recognition Programs in the women's category, regardless of their gender identity or gender expression," does not comply with Florida law.
Uthmeier has threatened to use every tool at his disposal to ensure the protection of women and girls in Florida, stating that the state won't tolerate men competing in women's sports. He has reiterated his belief that there is a "moral obligation" to protect women, and that Florida won't tolerate males in locker rooms or transgender athletes dominating athletic competitions.
The Attorney General's comments were made at a recent news conference, where he spoke about a transgender swimmer who won five gold medals by competing against biological females earlier in 2025, which Uthmeier finds unacceptable. Uthmeier has also criticized the "eligibility requirements" in the U.S. Masters Swimming policy, stating that they have some "unfortunate wiggle room."
If the U.S. Masters Swimming organization does not comply with Uthmeier's demands, Florida may pursue legal action, citing violations of public nuisance and anti-discrimination laws. The organization recently unveiled new participation guidelines in June, but Uthmeier has stated that these guidelines do not comply with Florida law.
The Florida Attorney General, James Uthmeier, has expressed concerns about the U.S. Masters Swimming organization's policy on transgender athletes competing in women's sports, stating that it violates Florida law. He advocates for a change in the policy to exclude transgender athletes from competing in women's events, asserting that only biological females should be eligible for women's sports categories and recognition programs.
