{"id":108695,"date":"2021-12-14T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-14T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifamnews.com\/?p=108695"},"modified":"2021-12-13T23:38:38","modified_gmt":"2021-12-14T04:38:38","slug":"biological-male-competing-as-a-women-shatters-college-women-s-swimming-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ifamnews.com\/en\/biological-male-competing-as-a-women-shatters-college-women-s-swimming-records","title":{"rendered":"Biological male competing as a woman shatters college women’s swimming records"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Men and women, while being of equal worth and possessing equal dignity as they are created in the image and likeness of God, are not identical. For example, men tend to be bigger, stronger and faster than women. Among other things, men have greater bone density, more muscle mass, and larger hands and feet. As a result of these physical differences that have real world consequences, sporting competitions from time immemorial have segregated men and women; that is, biological males have competed only against biological males, and biological females have competed only against biological females. To do otherwise would give men an unfair advantage due to physical difference. For example, the male world record in the 100 meter freestyle swimming event is almost 6 seconds faster than the female world record (46.91 seconds versus 51.71 seconds or over 10% faster). Likewise, the male world record in the pole vault is over 1 meter higher than the female world record (6.18 meters vs. 5.06 meters or 22% higher). And in soccer<\/a>, the under-15 male academy team<\/em> of FC Dallas (U.S. Major League Soccer team) handily defeated the U.S Women\u2019s National Soccer Team 5-2. Indeed, one study<\/a> has found that the average male advantage over females ranges from 10% to over 50% across various sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why it is troubling to allow biological males who identify as female to compete against biological females in sporting competitions. The absurdity of allowing this can most recently be seen in the actions of the University of Pennsylvania swimming team. Will Thomas, a biological male, competed for three years on the university\u2019s men\u2019s swimming team. Competing against men, Will was not able to break any records or garner significant attention. However, Will then identified as a woman and joined the women\u2019s swimming team. Will was permitted to do this under NCAA rules which state:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA trans female (MTF) [biological male] student-athlete being treated with testosterone suppression medication for Gender Identity Disorder or gender dysphoria and\/or Transsexualism, for the purposes of NCAA competition may continue to compete on a men\u2019s team but may not compete on a women\u2019s team without changing it to a mixed team status until completing one calendar year of testosterone suppression treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So Will (now Lia), to comply with the NCAA rules, sat out a year (easy to do under Covid restrictions) and underwent testosterone suppression treatment. Then, as a member of the women\u2019s team, he began shredding records. At a swim meet on November 20, 2021, he broke both the University of Pennsylvania and the Ivy-League women\u2019s swimming records in the 200-meter freestyle and 500-meter freestyle races. His times were so good that he would have placed second and<\/em> third at the NCAA Women’s Championships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But is this fair? Even though Thomas took testosterone blockers for a year, he had already received the benefits of testosterone (stronger bones, more muscle mass, etc.) as he transitioned after puberty. In addition, one study<\/a> has found that taking testosterone blockers for a year definitely does not even the playing field for biological women.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So the NCAA policy that allows biological men to compete against biological females is clearly unfair. As one coach summed up the Thomas situation via Twitter: \u201cWell of course women\u2019s records are being smashed! Lia competed as male for first three years in the NCAA. This is not right. We need to return to #SexBasedSports! #SexNotGender to preserve fairness for female athletes.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Well of course women\u2019s records are being smashed! https:\/\/t.co\/tMBrgCLkXX<\/a>

Lia competed as male for first three years in #NCAA<\/a>.

This is not right!

We need to return to #SexBasedSports<\/a>!

#SexNotGender<\/a> to preserve fairness for female athletes. pic.twitter.com\/AcDvx7MTIB<\/a><\/p>— Linda Blade (@coachblade) November 30, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>