Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer who made headlines in recent years, will not be allowed to qualify for the Olympics under new World Aquatics rules — a decision many, including former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, have publicly praised as a major victory for women’s sports.

The decision stems from updated policies by World Aquatics (formerly FINA), which prohibit transgender women from competing in elite female competitions if they underwent male puberty. This ruling was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in June 2024, effectively ending Thomas’s Olympic hopes.

Pam Bondi, though not directly involved in the legal case, has been one of the most vocal public figures supporting policies that limit transgender participation in women’s sports. She called the court’s decision a “necessary step toward fairness and protecting the integrity of female athletics.”