Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer who captured national attention after clinching a 2022 NCAA Division I individual title, has faced a setback in her challenge against rules that prevent her from competing at higher levels.

A panel of three judges from the Court of Arbitration for Sport recently dismissed the 25-year-old’s request for arbitration with the World Aquatics governing body.

Thomas filed the necessary legal paperwork back in January against World Aquatics. This was in response to a policy implemented several months post her title win, which restricts transgender athletes who previously experienced male puberty from participating in elite women’s competitions.

Although World Aquatics banned transgender athletes from competing against women, they introduced an “open” category to allow transgender athletes to compete.

On Wednesday, the panel of judges ruled that Thomas did not have standing to challenge the federation’s policy. They noted that, “for the time being,” she isn’t eligible to compete in events through World Aquatics or USA Swimming, rendering the policy inapplicable to her.

“She is currently only entitled to compete in USA Swimming events that do not qualify as ‘Elite Events.’”

This decision comes just days before the U.S. Olympic swimming trials are set to commence.

Thomas, through a statement from her legal team, shared her disappointment, stating, “Blanket bans preventing trans women from competing are discriminatory and deprive us of valuable athletic opportunities that are central to our identities. The CAS decision should be seen as a call to action to all trans women athletes to continue to fight for our dignity and human rights.”