AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the NCAA to block transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports. It was claimed that this was an act of deceiving and misleading fans.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Lubbock and announced Sunday, alleges that the NCAA violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by promoting women’s sports that may include transgender athletes. The law is designed to protect consumers from being tricked or deceived into buying products or services other than those advertised, the lawsuit said.
The Texas lawsuit is the latest attempt by conservative politicians to target transgender athletes and pressure the NCAA to ban them from competition. President-elect Donald Trump has said he wants to stop transgender athletes from competing.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction to prevent the NCAA from allowing transgender athletes to participate in Texas women’s sports or sports affiliated with Texas programs. Or, if transgender athletes are allowed, they want the court to require the NCAA to stop marketing the event as a “women’s” sport.
In his statement, Paxton appeared to be referencing recent controversy involving San Jose State women’s volleyball, which saw several opponents forfeit games this season because the Spartans had a transgender player.
Last month, a federal court refused to block the school from competing in the Mountain West Conference championships.
“For example, when watching a women’s volleyball game, people expect to see women playing against other women, not biological males pretending to be something they are not,” Paxton said. “Radical ‘gender theory’ has no place in college sports.”
The Associated Press is not releasing the player’s name because he has not spoken publicly about his gender identity and declined an interview request through school officials.
Paxton accused the NCAA of “intentionally and intentionally endangering the safety and well-being of women” and turning women’s sports into “unisex competitions.”
The NCAA currently does not track data on transgender athletes, among the 544,000 who compete on 19,000 teams at all levels across the country. NCAA President Charlie Baker testified before Congress earlier this month that he was aware of fewer than 10 active NCAA athletes who identify as transgender.
“College sports are the premier stage for women’s sports in the United States, and while the NCAA does not comment on pending litigation, the Association and its members will continue to promote Title IX, make unprecedented investments in women’s sports, and ensure fair competition at all NCAA Championships. no see. The NCAA said in a statement Monday.
San Jose State volleyball co-captain Brooke Slusser, who was among a group of players suing the Mountain West Conference over her teammates’ participation, praised the Texas lawsuit on social media.
“Hey NCAA, in case you haven’t realized it already, this fight is going to keep getting harder until you make a change!,” Slusser posted on X.
The NCAA established a policy in 2010 requiring trans athletes who were assigned male at birth to complete testosterone suppression treatment for at least a year before competing on women’s teams.
Trans athletes who were assigned female at birth and transitioned to male are eligible to compete on male teams, but are ineligible to compete on female teams if they have undergone testosterone treatment.
Athletes must meet the standards of their chosen sport for documented testosterone levels at various points during the season.
In 2022, the NCAA revised its policy in an attempt to collaborate with national sports governing bodies. If a governing body does not have a trans athlete policy, this extends to the international federations that oversee the sport. In the absence of an International Federation policy, previously established Olympic policy criteria will be followed.
