The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that USA Powerlifting’s decision to bar a transgender athlete from competing in the women’s division amounted to discrimination. The athlete in question, JayCee Cooper, originally applied in 2018 and wasn’t allowed to compete.
USA Powerlifting (USAPL) issued a statement indicating they are “pleased” that the courts allowed a claim to proceed to a jury, emphasizing their right to present evidence that the exclusion was based on legitimate business reasons. They pointed to research indicating that males may retain up to a 64 % strength advantage in powerlifting even after testosterone suppression, which they argue justifies maintaining separate categories.
In reaction to the decision, Minnesota Republican lawmakers stated they intend to push legislation next session to affirm protections for female athletes. House speaker Lisa Demuth lamented the ruling as “another setback in the fight to protect girls’ and women’s sports.”
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