EXCLUSIVESen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., called on NCAA President Charlie Baker to make changes to the organization's rules regarding equity in women's sports.
Blackburn's letter, obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, called on the NCAA to “update its student-athlete participation policy to require that only biologically female students participate in women's sports.”
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Senator Marsha Blackburn is calling on NCAA President Charlie Baker to make changes to the organization's rules regarding equity in women's sports. (Shannon Finney/Getty Images for the RIAA)
The Republican lawmaker wrote that the NCAA has not done enough to protect female athletes despite boasting about its college stars at the Paris Olympics. Blackburn pointed to scientific studies showing that “men have inherent athletic advantages over women due to their anatomy and biology.”
“While men may have inherent athletic advantages, they have no advantage over women in their level of passion, drive or desire to compete,” Blackburn's letter says. “The very foundation of sport is the display of a commitment to excellence, grace under pressure and fair play among competitors, all of which are threatened if there is no level playing field.
“Women deserve equal opportunities and chances to compete, something that can only be achieved by ensuring that only women compete in women's sports. We urge you to follow the lead of the NAIA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport and adopt policies that protect women's sports.”
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., speaks during the Republican National Convention on July 15, 2024. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
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Numerous senators supported Blackburn's letter, including Tommy Tuberville, Katie Britt, Joni Ernst, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Cynthia Lummis, James Lankford, John Thune, James Risch, Steve Daines, Roger Wicker, Kevin Cramer, Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz , Pete Ricketts, Ted Budd, Marco Rubio, Mike Crapo, Mike Braun, Bill Cassidy, Thom Tillis, Roger Marshall and Rick Scott.
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) banned transgender athletes from competing in women's sports in April.
Blackburn's letter came as the Biden administration's rewrite of Title IX went into effect in some states, which says sex discrimination includes discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
The revision also does not prohibit schools from barring transgender athletes from competing against biological women.
The final phase of the NCAA's transgender inclusion policy update went into effect last August.
Senator Marsha Blackburn is calling on NCAA President Charlie Baker to make changes to the organization's rules regarding equity in women's sports. (Photos by Joe Robbins/NCAA via Getty Images)
“…Participation in NCAA sports requires transgender student-athletes to provide documentation that meets the sport-specific standard, submitted twice annually (once at the start of the competitive season and a second time six months later) for one year,” says the policy, which began Aug. 1, 2023. “This process will continue annually for eligible student-athletes.”
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“To participate in NCAA Championships, transgender athletes must also provide documentation of testosterone levels to CSMAS and complete laboratory testing within four weeks of championship selections.”
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