Sun Oct 27 11:20:00 UTC 2024: ## Trump Vows to Ban Transgender Athletes from Women’s Sports, Citing Former Swimmer’s Testimony

**Atlanta, GA** – Former President Donald Trump has vowed to ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports if elected, citing the personal experience of former college swimmer Riley Gaines. Gaines, who is suing the NCAA over its transgender athlete policies, spoke at a Turning Point Action conference in Georgia, detailing her discomfort sharing a locker room with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.

“There are no words to describe the violation and the betrayal, the humiliation that we felt,” Gaines said, recounting the experience of undressing inches away from a biological male.

Gaines and other female athletes are seeking to overturn the NCAA’s policy on gender identity, arguing that it violates their Title IX rights. The lawsuit stems from the 2022 NCAA championships where Thomas, a transgender woman, competed alongside Gaines and other women.

Trump, who has made protecting women’s sports from transgender inclusion a key campaign issue, echoed Gaines’ concerns at a recent Fox News town hall. “We’re not going to let it happen,” he declared, “We stop it, we stop it, we absolutely stop it. You just ban it. The president bans it.”

This stance reflects a growing divide over transgender inclusion in sports. While the Biden administration has clarified that Title IX covers discrimination based on gender identity, several states have passed legislation restricting transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports.

The Supreme Court has blocked enforcement of the administration’s Title IX rule, and a recent UN study found that hundreds of female athletes have lost medals due to competition against transgender athletes.

This issue has become a highly polarized political debate, with Republicans generally opposing transgender inclusion and Democrats more supportive. The upcoming election is expected to be a key battleground for this issue, with candidates on both sides taking a strong stance.

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