By Valerie Richardson - The Washington Times - Friday, February 2, 2024

Male-born Lia Thomas’ dream of competing in Olympic women’s swimming could face another obstacle, this one from congressional Republicans.

Rep. Greg Steube of Florida and Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama have introduced legislation that would require governing bodies recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee to ensure their eligibility rules “prohibit men from competing in women’s Olympic sports.”

H.R. 7187 would apply to USA Swimming as well as organizations such as USA Boxing, which came under fire in December for its revised transgender policy allowing male-born boxers to enter the women’s category if they keep their testosterone in serum below a proscribed level for at least 48 months before competition.

“It is deeply disturbing to see USA Boxing change its policy to allow men to box against women,” said Mr. Tuberville, former Auburn University head football coach. “Men should not be competing in women’s sports at any level — and especially not in a sport like boxing.”

He said the bill introduced Thursday “will ensure that the Olympics are fair to American women who train their whole lives to represent our country on the world stage.”

The legislation, which has a much better chance of passing the GOP-controlled House than the Democratic-led Senate, comes with national athletic governing bodies holding trials for the 2024 Paris Olympics, which are to run from July 26 to Aug. 11.

Lia Thomas has sued World Aquatics, the global swimming authority, in the Swiss-based Court for Arbitration of Sport over its revised transgender policy, which bans male-to-female transgender swimmers from competing in women’s events unless they transitioned before the age of 12 or early puberty.

The former University of Pennsylvania swimmer became the first biological male to win an NCAA Division I title by placing first in the 500-yard freestyle at the 2022 championships, igniting an international debate over fairness versus inclusion in women’s athletic competitions.

The legislation would update the 1978 Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, which established the U.S. Olympic Committee and national governing organizations for each Olympic sport.

The measure “sets out a variety of requirements that must be followed by these individual governing bodies in order to be certified by USOC,” Mr. Steube’s office said.

“Due to the illogical USA Boxing transgender policy, I introduced legislation to prevent organizations who choose to live in delusion from being recognized by the U.S. Olympic committee,” Mr. Steube said. “We must combat the erasure of women’s sports by standing for truth, reality, safety, and fairness.”

Those supporting the legislation include the Alliance Defending Freedom, American Principles Project, Concerned Women for America, Heritage Action, Independent Council on Women’s Sport, Independent Women’s Forum, International Consortium on Female Sport, Women’s Declaration International USA and Women’s Liberation Front.

Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, who tied with Thomas at the 2022 championships in the 200-yard freestyle, praised the legislation.

“As an athlete who has experienced the injustice of competing against a male firsthand, I’m grateful for the leadership of Representative Steube and Senator Tuberville,” she said. “They have made it clear that they will fight for fairness, privacy, and safety for girls and women in sports.”

In April, House Republicans passed H.R. 734, or the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, legislation sponsored by Mr. Steube that prohibits male-born athletes from competing in female scholastic sports.

The legislation, which cleared the House with no Democratic votes, now sits in the Senate, where it is expected to die.

• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.

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