Golfer and failed politician Caitlyn Jenner is talking about trans athletes again
Caitlyn Jenner meets with members of the press to concede defeat during a recall election in California. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
We regret to inform you that Caitlyn Jenner is once again talking about trans athletes as she wades into the debate over Lia Thomas.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association, which regulates more than a thousand student-athletes in the US, announced Wednesday (19 January) that it has scrapped its decades-long inclusive policy for trans competitors.
Adopting guidelines that place it in the company of the US and International Olympic Committees, the NCAA has shrugged off responsibility by making individual sport governing bodies decide if trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming student-athletes can compete.
And Jenner, who recently failed her bid to become Californian governor, is happy about that.
“I’ve said from the beginning, biological boys should not be playing in women’s sports,” she told Fox News’ America Reports co-host, Sandra Smith, Wednesday evening.
“We need to protect women’s sports.”
Caitlyn Jenner slams ‘woke world’ that wants trans inclusivity in sports
Caitlyn Jenner took aim at Lia Thomas, a University of Pennsylvania swimmer who has been tugged into the centre of the debate on trans inclusion in competitive women’s sports.
To her critics, her participation is “unfair”, with Olympic gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps, who is 50 per cent long limbs, comparing her being trans to “doping”.
Yet, only recently did Thomas lose to three cis women and a trans man, placing fifth in the women’s 100-yard freestyle at twin dual meets with Yale and Dartmouth.
Lia Thomas of the Pennsylvania Quakers shakes hands with a competitor. (Getty/ Hunter Martin)
And as a result of new NCAA rules, Thomas would have to comply with USA Swimming’s trans policies to compete in the upcoming NCAA Championships – but the body doesn’t have a formal policy, making her future unclear.
“Obviously this is about Lia Thomas who has brought a lot of attention to this issue,” Caitlyn Jenner said. “First of all, I respect her decision to live her life authentically. 100 per cent.
“But that also comes with responsibility and some integrity. I don’t know why she’s doing this. For two reasons: One, it’s not good for the trans community.
“We have a lot of issues in the trans community that are very difficult and very challenging. We have a suicide rate that’s nine times higher than the general public.”
The retired decathlete, 72, added that Thomas is “not good for women’s sports” and described her participation in it as “unfortunate”.
“All of this is woke world that we’re living in right now is not working,” she added. “I feel sorry for the other athletes that are out there, especially at Penn or anyone she’s competing against.
“Because in this woke world, you have to say: ‘Oh my gosh, this is great.’ No, it’s not.”
The NCAA’s new policies – or rather, lack of – has been sharply criticised by LGBT+ activists and sporting officials, stressing that the move come amid a wave of anti-trans bills clogging up state legislators.
Within weeks into the new year, Republican lawmakers in at least seven states have pitched laws targeting trans youth, from their access to life-saving healthcare to whether they can compete in school sports.
The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America, which represents thousands of swimming coaches, said it was “disappointed in their failure to take the lead on this important issue”.
