Memphis Standard

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn led 22 of her Republican colleagues in sending a letter urging National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President Charlie Baker to update their student-athlete policy to ensure only biologically female students can participate in women’s sports.

“Amid the Biden-Harris administration’s unprecedented assault on Title IX, we write to urge the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to update your student-athlete participation policy to require that only biologically female students participate in women’s sports. The 2024 Summer Olympics are upon us, and the NCAA has boasted about its athletes’ participation. Yet the NCAA has still taken no steps to protect a critical portion of these athletes. Several organizations—including the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Court of Arbitration for Sport—in addition to more than 20 states, have acted recently to protect women’s sports. We urge the NCAA to follow suit and take similar action to promote fair play.”

“The science is clear. Males have inherent athletic advantages over females due to their anatomy and biology—including through having larger hearts, higher red blood count, greater lung capacity, longer endurance, larger muscle mass, differences in bone density and geometry, and lower body fat. Consistently, when adult males’ athletic performance is contrasted with adult females’ athletic performance in sports relying on endurance, muscle strength, speed, and power, males dominate, outperforming females by 10 to 30 percent… there is an understanding that male hormones give athletes a material and competitive advantage in sports. To allow biological men to compete in women’s sports while considering testosterone a performance enhancer is intellectually dishonest. These facts cannot continue to be ignored by the NCAA.”

“In April of this year, the NAIA Council of Presidents unanimously approved a new policy prohibiting the participation of males in women’s sports. Similarly, in June of this year, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Lia Thomas lacked standing to challenge World Aquatic’s policy barring Thomas from competing in the women’s category for the Olympics. These decisions are rooted in fundamental knowledge that—while each individual should have access to sports—men and women have biological differences that must be respected… The very bedrock of sport is the exhibition of a commitment to excellence, grace under pressure, and fair play among competitors—all of which is threatened absent an even playing field. Women deserve that even playing field and chance to compete; one that can only be achieved by ensuring that only females 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.”

Riley Gaines expressed support: “In conjunction with the Biden-Harris administration, the NCAA has turned their back on women by disregarding Title IX and its original intent. It's unfair; it's unsafe; it's discriminatory."

Penny Nance added: “Men and women are different... But now those opportunities are being ripped away from them because of men who are identifying as female..."

Ryan Walker stated: “Men do not belong in women's sports... By giving men access...the NCAA is violating its responsibility..."

Marshi Smith & Kim Jones remarked: “The infiltration of men...is an attack on fundamental principles..."

Carrie Lukas & May Mailman commented: “The NCAA touts its Emerging Sports For Women Program...all while embracing policies..."

Nancy Hogshead noted: "Years later...we now know that science relied on was wrong..."

Hannah Daniel said: "Both our biblical understanding...and mounting scientific evidence underscore necessity..."

The letter was co-signed by Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), John Thune (R-S.D.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Rick Scott(R-Fla.).