USA Gymnastics Removes Transgender Policy Pages Amid Controversy
USA Gymnastics has recently made headlines by removing sections of its website related to transgender athlete policies. The exact timing of this change is unclear, but it follows an intense public discussion sparked by Olympic champion Simone Biles and former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines.
The organization had previously outlined its stance that transgender athletes would not need to undergo sex reassignment surgery, legal gender recognition, or hormone therapy to compete in their chosen gender category. Archived materials from late 2020 confirm this policy, although attempts to access these pages now result in error messages.
Among the removed content were several informative pamphlets that provided guidelines for transgender and non-binary athletes. These resources included a nine-page document titled "Transgender Athlete Inclusion Resources," which is no longer available online. Prior to their deletion, these pages were visible on USA Gymnastics’ website as recently as April.
As the debate intensified on social media, Biles found herself in a public dispute with Gaines. Their disagreement escalated after Gaines criticized a Minnesota high school’s championship-winning softball team that featured a transgender pitcher. The athlete, Marissa Rothenberger, played a crucial role in leading Champlin Park High School to victory.
Gaines, who has built a platform advocating against transgender participation in women’s sports, claimed that multiple athletes from Team USA had backed her views. Biles responded sharply to Gaines’ comments, labeling them "sick" and advocating for support of transgender athletes instead. This exchange has stirred significant debate online, generating mixed reactions from sports fans and activists alike.
Criticism has cascaded toward Biles from various quarters, including prominent individuals like Donald Trump Jr., who joined the discourse on social platforms. The controversy reflects a broader discussion on how sports organizations are handling transgender participation amid growing public scrutiny.
Meanwhile, other sports governing bodies are also revisiting their transgender policies. USA Track and Field (USATF), for instance, has updated its guidelines in line with World Athletics’ restrictions, which prohibit athletes who have undergone male puberty from competing in women’s events. This shift is notable considering that USATF had previously referenced the International Olympic Committee’s policies, which are more permissive regarding transgender athlete participation.
Another organization, USA Fencing, announced plans to revise its gender-eligibility policies after facing backlash related to a protest by women’s fencer Stephanie Turner. The organization’s upcoming changes may restrict participation in women’s events to those classified as female at birth, contingent upon compliance with federal regulations or guidelines set by governing bodies.
In February, an executive order was signed to prevent transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, responding to significant public opinion that leans against such participation. A recent survey revealed that a substantial majority of Americans, spanning across political affiliations, believe biological males should not compete against females in sports. This data highlights a growing sentiment that is shaping policies across various sports organizations.
As USA Gymnastics and other organizations navigate this complex landscape, the conversation continues to evolve. The reactions to Biles and Gaines’ public exchange illustrate the tense dynamics of this ongoing debate, reflecting broader societal attitudes toward inclusion, fairness, and the integrity of women’s sports.
In summary, the recent moves by USA Gymnastics to remove its transgender policy pages come at a time when sports organizations are increasingly pressured to evaluate their inclusivity practices. As discussions unfold, the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports remains a polarizing topic that is likely to influence policies for the foreseeable future.
