Avast, ye scurvy NCAA! Riley Gaines be callin' ye cowards! Change yer trans athlete policies, 'tis disheartenin'! Arrr!
2024-01-14
Arrr, ye scurvy dogs! Tis be a tale o' Riley Gaines, a fine swimmer from the University of Kentucky. She be sharin' her quarrel with the NCAA's antics on transgender athletes in the fair realm o' women's sports, on 'Fox & Friends Weekend'. Yarrr!
Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines is speaking out against the NCAA's handling of policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sports. Gaines criticized the NCAA for being reluctant to meet with female athletes who claim to have been adversely affected by these policies and for taking a passive approach to the issue. She described the NCAA's current approach as cowardly and expressed her belief that they know the policies are wrong but are leaving it up to each specific sport to make their own rules.Gaines, along with Olympians, coaches, and other NCAA athletes, attended the 2024 NCAA Convention in Phoenix to hand-deliver a demand letter and petition to organizational officials. This was not the first time the group had made these demands, as they had done so the previous year as well. Gaines expressed disappointment that the officials did not even look her in the eyes while receiving the petition and letter.
Gaines had hoped to meet with NCAA President Charlie Baker to discuss the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's events. However, she stated that despite Baker's claims of changes being made, the discrimination against women on the basis of their sex continues to occur in various sports, levels, divisions, and states.
NCAA President Charlie Baker testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee and acknowledged that he cannot defend the actions of 2022 since he was not in his current position at that time. He emphasized that the NCAA has specific rules and standards for the safety and security of all student athletes and that hosts of national championships must abide by them. He also stated that the current policy might not be the one they would use today.
Fox News reached out to the NCAA for a statement, but no response was received in time for the segment. Gaines is determined to continue advocating for female athletes affected by transgender policies and hopes for a productive dialogue with NCAA officials.