Should trans athletes be allowed to compete as they see fit? Issue needs yes-or-no answer

Penn’s Lia Thomas, a transgender athlete, caused quite an uproar when she won the NCAA women’s 500-yard freestyle in 2022. (Mary Schwalm/AP)

I’ll bet you didn’t see this one coming in the transgender-athletes-in-women’s-sports melee: The International Chess Federation (FIDE) just banned transgender women from competing in the women’s category.

You expect this in tough, physical sports such as rugby and boxing, both of which have banned transgender females over fairness concerns, like getting smashed in the face.