USA Gymnastics seems to have taken down the Transgender Eligibility Policy page from its website. It’s unclear if this removal was official or if it just happened by chance.
The organization has been facing considerable public pressure since Friday. This all started when Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles engaged in a heated exchange on social media with former NCAA swimmer and conservative activist Riley Gaines regarding the inclusion of transgender athletes.
Currently, any links previously directing users to the organization’s policies concerning transgender eligibility are no longer functional.
One of the links dated back to a November 2020 announcement, which indicated that the organization no longer required transgender athletes to undergo sexual reassignment, gain legal gender recognition, or undergo hormone therapy. Though the page is still visible in search results, clicking it leads to a 404 error.
Another link previously contained a PDF brochure detailing the guidelines for transgender and non-binary participants, but that too is currently inaccessible, despite being one of the most searched results.
There was also a connection to a nine-page PDF titled “Transgender Athlete Inclusion Resources: Support for Transgender and Non-Binary Athletes,” which is also no longer accessible.
Interestingly, the governance section on USA Gymnastics’ official site had guidelines and resources for transgender and non-binary athletes in April, yet those links don’t seem to be available now.
Apparently, the Wayback Machine isn’t precise in identifying when a page is deleted or altered.
Fox News Digital has reached out to USA Gymnastics for a response.
Meanwhile, Biles and Gaines’ feud has gained traction on social media over the last few days, stimulating significant discussion and dominating trending topics on platforms like X.
Gaines claimed in a video that several USA athletes shared her views on allowing biological males in women’s sports.
The tension flared when Biles criticized Gaines following the state championship win of a Minnesota high school softball team with a transgender pitcher, Marissa Rothenberger.
Gaines has a podcast called “Gaines for Girls,” where she noted that the Minnesota State High School League post had comments disabled, highlighting the contentious nature of the topic.
In response, Biles labeled Gaines’ remarks as troubling and accused her of bullying, emphasizing the need to uplift trans athletes. She even pointed out the irony in Gaines’ comments directed toward a male athlete.
Biles has faced backlash from conservative circles and advocates for women’s sports rights, including Donald Trump Jr., who voiced criticism on social media.
Other governing sports agencies have quietly updated their transgender inclusion policies in light of increasing opposition to transgender participation in women’s sports. For instance, USA Track & Field refers to World Athletics Guidelines currently on its site.
This organization previously referenced the International Olympic Committee’s policies, which permit biological men to compete as females. Meanwhile, global athletics have implemented bans on athletes who transitioned from male to female during their adolescence.
USA Fencing is also in the process of revising its gender eligibility policy following significant protests from female fencers, indicating potential federal intervention.
The organization aims to ensure that future policies permit only biological females to compete in women’s categories.
In February, former President Trump signed an executive order banning trans athletes from competing in women’s and girls’ sports, reflecting a concerning trend among the American public. Surveys indicate strong opposition, with many Americans, including a notable proportion of Democrats, against such inclusivity.
Out of a participant pool of 2,128, around 79% of biological males stated they shouldn’t compete in women’s sports, while 67% of Democrats also opposed this arrangement.
