President Donald Trump has signed an executive order prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports in the US.
The order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” was signed on Wednesday. Trump stated that this measure would end what he called “the war on women’s sports” in the country. Under the new directive, the US Department of Education will be responsible for ensuring schools nationwide follow these rules.
“If you let men take over women’s sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX and risk your federal funding,” Trump declared. The order’s reach extends to International Olympic Committee (IOC) competitions held in the United States, potentially affecting the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
LGBT rights activists view this as Trump’s latest action against their community. During his inauguration speech, Trump had already sparked controversy by declaring that there are only two sexes in the US: male and female, a statement that many considered discriminatory against transgender people.
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The participation of transgender women in female sports has become increasingly debated in recent years. Several major sporting bodies have already implemented similar restrictions:
World Athletics banned athletes who had gone through male puberty from female competitions in 2023. The International Swimming Federation (FINA) took similar action in 2022, prohibiting transgender women whose transition began after age 12 from competing in female events. The World Boxing Council (WBC), International Chess Federation, and Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) have also introduced restrictions.
However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) currently maintains more flexible guidelines regarding transgender athletes in female sports.
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