Texas attorney general Ken Paxton has sued adult swimming organization U.S. Masters Swimming for allowing transgender athletes to race in a San Antonio competition in April, claiming it constituted “misleading” business practice.
As reported by Ayden Runnels of The Texas Tribune, Paxton’s lawsuit, filed Thursday, follows an investigation into the organization he announced in May. The suit claims the organization violated the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act by allowing two trans women to compete in women’s events during its Spring Nationals competition in San Antonio.
Texas attorney general Ken Paxton has sued adult swimming organization U.S. Masters Swimming for allowing transgender athletes to race in a San Antonio competition in April, claiming it constituted “misleading” business practice.
As reported by Ayden Runnels of The Texas Tribune, Paxton’s lawsuit, filed Thursday, follows an investigation into the organization he announced in May. The suit claims the organization violated the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act by allowing two trans women to compete in women’s events during its Spring Nationals competition in San Antonio.
The competition had previously been scrutinized after 47-year-old Ana Caldas, one of the two trans competitors, won first place in five separate women’s age 45-49 races during the event, Runnels reported. About 25% of the organization’s 60,000 members take part in their competitive events, while most other members are focused on health and fitness, a spokesperson with Masters Swimming said Friday.
Paxton’s office seeks up to $10,000 for each alleged trade practice act violation. In a statement, Paxton called the organization’s policy on allowing trans athletes to compete “insane,” and said the lawsuit would protect the integrity of women’s sports.
“The organization has cowered to radical activists pushing gender warfare, and it has deprived female participants of the opportunity to succeed at the highest levels by letting men win countless events,” said Paxton, who sued the NCAA in late 2024 over its transgender athlete policy.
A U.S. Masters Swimming spokesperson said in a statement to The Texas Tribune that the organization was first were made aware of the lawsuit through a social media post Thursday. The organization said it had been cooperative with Paxton’s investigation and would continue to be.
“It is deeply disappointing to see our organization and individual members publicly targeted in a lawsuit that appears to be more about generating headlines than seeking justice,” the statement read, as reported by Runnels.
"The organization updated its policy on allowing trans athletes to compete in their events weeks before Paxton’s suit was filed, shifting guidelines to prevent trans athletes from being recognized for placing in events but still allowing them to compete in categories matching their gender identity," Runnels wrote. "Masters Swimming said it made the change in response to feedback from Paxton’s office during the investigation, however Paxton called the change 'too little, too late' in the lawsuit."
Texas was the second state to target U.S. Masters Swimming last week, according to Runnels. On Tuesday, Florida attorney general James Uthmeier threatened legal action against the company, claiming its new policy was in violation of Florida discrimination and public nuisance laws.
