Trump admin rules UPenn violated Title IX, demands school return honors to female athletes

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The University of Pennsylvania was found to have "violated Title IX by denying women equal opportunities by permitting males to compete in women’s intercollegiate athletics and to occupy women-only intimate facilities," the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced Monday.

The OCR said it will give the university 10 days to be in compliance with Title IX or risk facing a criminal referral to the Justice Department.

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Penn Quakers swimmer Lia Thomas finishes eighth in the 100 free at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, March 19, 2022. (Brett Davis-USA Today Sports)

"Little girls who look up to Riley Gaines and Paula Scanlan can find hope in today’s action – the Trump Administration will not allow male athletes to invade female private spaces or compete in female categories," acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said in a news release.

"UPenn has a choice to make: do the right thing for its female students and come into full compliance with Title IX immediately or continue to advance an extremist political project that violates federal antidiscrimination law and puts UPenn’s federal funding at risk."

Fox News Digital reached out to the University of Pennsylvania for comment.

The OCR demanded that the school issue a statement on its intention to follow Title IX along with two other key actions.

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Paula Scanlan, former University of Pennsylvania swimmer, testifies during the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution and Limited