Former American women’s gymnast Dee Worley expressed concern over the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s (USOPC) updated policies, which she claims are vague and leave room for ambiguity in addressing trans inclusion in women’s sports. Worley, who competed for the U.S. national team as early as her high school years in the late 1980s, criticized the lack of clear guidelines and called for mandatory sex screenings in women’s competitions.
The issue is part of a broader debate over trans athletes in women’s sports, with Worley joining other female athletes and activists, including women’s fencer Stephanie Turner, in calling for the USOPC to implement mandatory sex screenings for women’s competitions. She said that she doesn’t believe any momentum on the issue will be achieved until such measures are in place. Similar calls were made to the NCAA after it updated its gender eligibility policy in February.
Worley recognized that the recent change by the USOPC indicates the impact of public pressure on the organization over the issue of trans athletes in women’s sports. She previously criticized gymnastics legend Simone Biles for verbally attacking conservative activist Riley Gaines over the issue in June and now believes that the impact of the viral feud showed the USOPC that people aren’t afraid to speak out on the issue anymore. Worley said that she doesn’t believe any momentum on the issue will be achieved until mandatory sex screenings are implemented.
Other athletes have directly credited the feud between Gaines and Biles as a potential motivator for the timing of the USOPC’s policy change. Turner told Fox News Digital that she believes it affected the change. “Simone represented a side of the debate that didn’t seem very informed about this issue, and it came off as insensitive and insulting as if she had abandon all the women and girls that she claims to support,” Turner said. “That really put a spotlight on this debate and how insensitive being pro-men in women’s sports really is for women.” Former NFL player Jack Brewer also told Fox News Digital that he believed the feud impacted the recent change.
“I believe the feud between Simone Biles and Riley Gaines had a lot to do with the Olympics banning transgender athletes. It exposed public opinion, and I think President Trump’s victory in the last election was a major catalyst as well. People with common sense are trying to distance themselves from this lie that’s been taught to our children and has penetrated throughout our society—that somehow you can choose your gender,” Brewer said. “I think people in America and in this culture are just not going to accept that. This was showcased in the feud between two of America’s greatest female athletes in their respective sports. Simone Biles, by the way, is one of the greatest athletes in the history of America. For that to come out of her mouth, it really highlighted how deeply this lie has penetrated society. That was unfortunate, but sometimes you get a reality check, get slapped in the face, and you tend to wake up,” Brewer added.