Exclusive: West Virginia Sen. Jim Justice and half a dozen GOP Senators are seeking clarification from the NCAA about policies allowing biological men in women's locker rooms, telling Fox News Digital that the organization needs to clarify that “women's locker rooms are women only.”
Justice of RW.Va. wrote to Charlie Baker, president of the National University Athletics Association, exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital.
Female athletes call the NCAA for a new trans-inclusion policy: “We demand fair sports.”
Justice, a girls' basketball coach at Green Briar East High School in Lewisburg, West Virginia and coaches both boys and girls' basketball from the governor of West Virginia, explained to Fox News Digital that she works “always” to ensure that female athletes are protected.
“I'm a coach. I know that the last thing an athlete needs is to be distracted or interested in their safety and privacy while in the locker room,” Justice told Fox News Digital. “I really believe the NCAA has made the right move following President Trump's orders, but let's make it all clear that women's locker rooms are women only.”
West Virginia Sen. Jim Justice is a girls' basketball coach at Greenbrier East High School and coaches both boys and girls basketball from the governor of West Virginia. (Senator Jim Justice)
Justice added: “I always work to make sure that female athletes feel safe while they're changing in the locker room, like the women who coach back to West Virginia.”
Justice in the letter sent Monday was signed by Tommy Tuberville, R. Ala, Shelley Moore Capit, R. W.VA, Mike Krapo, R. Idaho, Jim Banks, R-India, James Lisch, R. Idaho, Mike Lee, R-UTAH, James Lankford, and R-Okla.
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice will make a state speech in Charleston, West Virginia on January 10, 2024.
“On February 5, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order. It will drive men out of women's sports, strengthen Title IX and protect opportunities for biological female athletes to participate in safe and fair sports.” After the attack on Title IX in the Biden Harris administration's efforts to allow biologically male athletes who recognize that they compete with women in women's sports, this order has come as a sigh of relief for millions of female athletes across the country who want an opportunity to engage in competitive movements,” Justice wrote.
Justice said the NCAA responded to Trump's orders by updating its student-athlete participation policy to prevent biological male students from participating in women's sports.
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“The new NCAA policy reveals that biological male student athletes may not compete in female teams. We could not support this essential policy change more,” Justice said. “The NCAA policy ensures that biological male athletes practicing with female athletes will receive “all other benefits that apply to student athletes who are otherwise qualified to practice.” ”
Fox News Digital reached the NCAA for comment and did not receive an immediate response.
Justice states that the NCAA “has an opportunity to clarify that these assurances do not include access to facilities that undermine the privacy and safety of female athletes.
Justice asks that the NCAA “seeks to consider adding language to its policy that explicitly prohibits biological male athletes from a women's only space and considering adopting additional privacy protections for women and girls in sports.”
The NCAA's new participation policy is “as clear as mud,” says Riley Gaines.
However, justice praised the NCAA policy that defines “gender assigned at birth” as the man or woman designation that physicians assign to infants at birth.
“Officially, the NCAA has confirmed that biological male athletes may not compete in female teams with revised birth certificates or other documentary means,” writes Justice. “The NCAA's public stance on this issue is commendable and its policy can go a step further and explicitly state that an amended birth certificate is prohibited.”
“We support President Trump's unparalleled actions to protect the safety and privacy of female athletes across the country,” the letter said. “The NCAA efforts are equally honorable and we look forward to working with you to ensure equal opportunities for women and girls in athletics.”
