U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS), the national governing body for competitive adult swimming in the United States, confirmed that a grievance has been filed by an individual member related to the USMS Code of Conduct.[1][2]
Angie Griffin, a female USMS competitor, told Fox News Digital the grievance was filed against her for referring to a transgender athlete as "a man" on a USMS community forum.[1]
USMS stated: "U.S. Masters Swimming does not comment on individual member matters, including complaints or disciplinary processes. We can confirm that a grievance has been filed by an individual member, not by U.S. Masters Swimming, related to the USMS Code of Conduct. As with all such matters, it is being handled in accordance with our established review processes."[1]
Griffin said the grievance could result in the removal of all her USMS records and recognition, describing her comments as factual opinion.[1] She has hired legal representation and filed a motion to dismiss, providing evidence that she was not bullying.[1]
Griffin has previously spoken about competing against a transgender athlete, identified as a biological male, at a USMS meet in San Antonio in May 2025, learning the athlete's birth sex after the event.[1]
USMS updated its gender eligibility policy last June to restrict biological males from women's events and revised it again this February to comply with state and local nondiscrimination laws, clarifying eligibility for the men's/open category regardless of sex or gender identity.[1]
Sources
- Fox News Digital, "U.S. Masters Swimming competitor claims grievance filed against her for calling trans athlete 'a man'", February 28, 2025, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/usms-swimmer-grievance-trans-man-forum
- U.S. Masters Swimming, "Code of Conduct", Accessed October 2024, https://www.usms.org/about-usms/governance/policies/code-of-conduct
