Posts saying that transgender athlete Lia Thomas has announced retirement from competitive swimming originate on satirical websites.
The fake headline, opens new tab shared on Facebook said: “Lia Thomas Announces Retirement from Competitive Swimming: ‘Nobody Wants Me on Their Team’” and posts included links to a website that reproduces material from other sites and redirects to product ads.
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However, the narrative was originally published by satirical websites Conservative Tears, opens new tab and Space X Arena, opens new tab in articles with headlines similar to the posts.
False reports about Lia Thomas’ retirement surfaced online after she lost her case against World Aquatics at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to overturn a ban on transgender athletes participating in elite women’s competitions on June 12, 2024.
The decision prevents Thomas from having a chance to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics starting on July 26.
There is no evidence that Thomas has announced retirement from competitive swimming.
Reuters has previously fact-checked false claims about Thomas stemming from satirical websites.
A representative for Thomas did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The “About Us” section, opens new tab of the Conservative Tears site says it is a subsidiary of the America’s Last Line of Defense network of “parody, satire and tomfoolery.” Likewise, the “About Us” page, opens new tab on the SpaceX Arena website notes that it carries “satirical and humorous content.”
VERDICT
False. Lia Thomas has not announced retirement from competitive swimming.
