U.S. Masters Swimming competitor Angie Griffin has been cleared of a grievance filed against her for comments made about a transgender athlete, resolving a dispute that lasted eight months. However, Griffin remains banned from the organization's online community forum, the platform she used to advocate for policy changes regarding transgender participation.
Griffin stated that a hearing last month resulted in a resolution less than a week later, finding her not guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct. The grievance originated from Griffin's posts on the U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS) community forum, where she advocated for aligning the organization's eligibility rules with those of World Aquatics and referred to a transgender competitor as a man.
USMS had previously confirmed that the grievance was filed by an individual member, not the organization itself, and pertained to the organization's code of conduct. At the time, Griffin expressed concern that the case could lead to the removal of her swimming times and honors, or even her expulsion from USMS. The resolution has now removed that threat.
Despite being cleared of the conduct charges, Griffin is still prohibited from accessing the USMS online community forum. "I’m still banned from using the U.S. Masters community forum, which is the only place I can possibly discuss policy change with any other members," Griffin told Fox News Digital. "I was cleared of the wrongdoing, and I’m still not allowed back in the one place where members can discuss the policy."
Griffin became a critic of USMS policies after competing against a transgender athlete at the organization's 2025 Spring National Championship in San Antonio. She stated she did not learn of the competitor's birth sex until after the event.
The controversy led to increased scrutiny of USMS's eligibility rules. The organization introduced an interim policy on July 1, 2025, and revised it again on February 21, 2026. The current policy allows swimmers to compete in categories aligning with their gender identity or expression. However, to achieve national recognition, such as records, Top 10 rankings, or All-American honors in the women's category, swimmers must certify they were assigned female at birth.
Griffin argues that this policy does not adequately protect the women's competition category, as it permits biological males to race against female swimmers, even if they are ineligible for certain national accolades. She pointed to a recent Minnesota Masters state championship where, she stated, a transgender athlete won a women's age-group category. Griffin believes many USMS members are unaware of the frequency of policy changes or the current rules.
"One of my teammates who feels the same way I do about the policy was at a meet down south, and she was shocked that so many members, women and men alike, had no idea that they had changed the policy three times since last year, or that they were even still allowing men to swim against women," Griffin said.