USA Gymnastics has removed its transgender eligibility guidelines from its website, a decision that has intensified the ongoing debate about the inclusion of trans athletes in women’s sports. The organization’s policy pages, which previously outlined guidelines allowing trans athletes to compete in the gender category of their choice, are now inaccessible. This move has come amid a public feud between Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and conservative activist Riley Gaines, who have both made strong public statements on the issue of trans athletes in women’s sports.
The removal of the policy pages has sparked controversy, with critics accusing USA Gymnastics of removing information to avoid public scrutiny. The organization’s previous guidelines, which were posted online, stated that trans athletes would not need to undergo sex reassignment, legal gender recognition, or hormone therapy to compete in the gender category they choose. However, these pages are now only found in search results as 404 errors, indicating their removal from the website. The Wayback Machine, an online archive of web pages, still contains links to these pages, but they are no longer accessible via USA Gymnastics’ official site.
The feud between Biles and Gaines has become a focal point in the larger debate over trans inclusion in women’s sports. The conflict began when Biles criticized Gaines for her comments on a Minnesota high school softball team that won a state championship with a transgender pitcher. Gaines, who has been a prominent voice in the conservative movement and has hosted the ‘Gaines for Girls’ podcast, suggested that the team’s success was due to the presence of a male athlete. Biles responded by calling Gaines ‘truly sick’ for her comments and accused her of not supporting trans athletes.
This public exchange has led to widespread attention, particularly on social media platforms like X, where the topic has dominated trending discussions. Critics have accused Biles of being a target for criticism from conservatives and women’s rights activists. In addition, former President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., joined the criticism with a pair of posts on X. The ongoing debate has also prompted other sports organizations to reconsider their policies. USA Track and Field (USATF) has updated its transgender eligibility policy to align with the guidelines of the World Athletics, which now restricts any athlete who has undergone male puberty from competing as a woman. USA Fencing has similarly announced plans to adjust its gender eligibility policy to ensure that the women’s category is open exclusively to athletes of the female sex.
The debate over trans athletes in women’s sports has also garnered significant public attention, with polls indicating strong opposition to the inclusion of trans athletes in women’s and girls’ sports. A recent New York Times/Ipsos survey found that 79% of Americans believe biological males who identify as women should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports. Of the 1,025 respondents who identified as Democrats or leaned Democratic, 67% expressed opposition to trans athletes participating in women’s sports. These findings highlight the contentious nature of the issue, with the debate continuing to shape the policies of various sports organizations and public opinion.