Women athletes gathered outside the NCAA Phoenix Convention to protest the organization's transgender policies that they believe are discriminatory. The protesters, led by former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines, delivered a petition and a legal demand letter to the conference organizers, demanding a meeting to discuss their concerns.
Gaines, who was a nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year award last year, expressed her disappointment in the reception they received. She stated that even though she was a previous nominee, the conference organizers did not acknowledge their presence and did not maintain eye contact during the delivery of the petition.
The main focus of contention for the athletes is the NCAA's current policy on transgender athletes. In 2010, the NCAA implemented a blanket policy that allowed athletes who had completed 12 months of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to compete in the category that aligned with their gender identity. However, the NCAA is now transitioning to a phase-out approach, leaving it up to each specific sport to set their own rules around transgender participation.
Gaines criticized the NCAA and the International Olympic Committee for their lack of leadership and accountability on the issue. She referred to them as 'cowards' for allowing each sport to handle the policy individually. Gaines suggested that a holistic approach should be adopted, where athletes compete in the category aligned with their biological sex.
When asked about any dialogue or feedback from the NCAA, Gaines stated that there had been no honest communication. She mentioned that President Charlie Baker testified before Congress but appeared unaware of the specific policies. Baker has not issued any apologies to the affected athletes but expressed willingness to have a conversation with them. However, according to Gaines, his actions do not align with his words.
Gaines hopes that the upcoming congressional hearing on January 18th will force President Baker to answer questions and take responsibility for the discriminatory policies. She emphasized that the leaders should not evade their duty to address the issue and should instead actively work towards finding a fair resolution.
The protest by women athletes outside the NCAA Phoenix Convention serves as a public demonstration of their dissatisfaction with the organization's policies regarding transgender participation in women's sports. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the NCAA will respond to the demands of these athletes and what actions they will take to ensure fairness in women's sports.
