Controversial transgender swimmer banned from competition until 2030

A transgender swimmer who was at the center of a national controversy earlier this year has been banned. World Aquatics 2030 and withheld all competitive results from June 2022 to October 2024 after refusing to take the gender verification test.

Ana Caldas was listed in the Aquatics Integrity Unit LIST OF SUSPENDED PERSONS This week for providing false information and breaching articles in the World Aquatics Integrity Code relating to defining criteria for male and female competition categories.

World Aquatics changed its gender eligibility policy in 2022, which limited the participation of transgender women in the women’s division before the age of 12 or before they reach Tanner Stage 2 of puberty.

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A general view of the World Aquatic Men’s Water Polo World Cup Division 2 Qualifier Final match between Romania vs China at Schwim- und Sprunghalle im Europa-Sportpark (SSE) on May 07, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Maja Hitiz/Getty Images)

Caldas drew national scrutiny in May after winning five gold medals at the U.S. Masters Swimming Championships in San Antonio, Texas, prompting outrage from some of Caldas’ detractors. Caldas dominated the women’s 45-49 age group in five races, including the 50- and 100-yard breaststroke, freestyle and 100-yard individual medley.

Longtime swimmer Wendy Enderle of Louisiana, who competed against Caldas in that event and past, said she felt “betrayed” because she was never informed of Caldas’ birth gender.

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On Thursday, Enderle gave a statement to Fox News Digital addressing World Aquatics’ decision to ban caldas by 2030.

“I applaud World Aquatics for their decision to maintain fairness and integrity in competitive swimming. I feel validated and validated, not only for myself, but for all the girls and women who are forced to compete against men who masquerade as women in our sport,” Enderle said.

“Standing on the podium in any position at the Masters World Championships is a huge thing! I feel for the women who were denied that opportunity by Ana/Hannah/Hugo in 2024 when he stood on three podiums in Doha. I’m glad that the women who missed that opportunity will be given their rightful place and awards.”

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Members of Team United States jump into the pool before the women’s water polo quarterfinal match between the United States and Japan on day nine of the Singapore 2025 World Aquatics Championships at the OCBC Aquatic Center on July 19, 2025 in Singapore. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched a lawsuit against the USMS over the San Antonio incident in July.

“I am suing US Masters Swimming for engaging in illegal practices by allowing men to compete in women’s events,” Paxton said in a post on X announcing the lawsuit. “The organization has terrorized radical activists pushing the gender war, and this lawsuit will hold the USMS accountable for its actions.”

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