A group of GOP lawmakers pushed the NCAA in a Tuesday letter to \u201cupdate\u201d its \u201cstudent-athlete participation policy to require that only biologically female students participate in women\u2019s sports.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAmid the Biden\u2014Harris administration\u2019s unprecedented assault on Title IX, we write to urge the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to update your student-athlete participation policy to require that only biologically female students participate in women\u2019s sports,\u201d the letter, addressed to NCAA President Charlie Baker\u2002<\/u><\/a>and signed by GOP senators<\/u><\/a> including Sens. Marsha Blackburn\u2002<\/u><\/a>(Tenn.), Tommy Tuberville\u2002<\/u><\/a>(Ala.), Katie Britt\u2002<\/u><\/a>(Ala.) and Joni Ernst\u2002<\/u><\/a>(Iowa), reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earlier this year, hundreds of current and former collegiate, professional and Olympic athletes pushed for the NCAA<\/u><\/a> to not ban transgender athletes from women\u2019s college sports. Those who signed that letter included ex-WNBA star Sue Bird\u2002<\/u><\/a>and former U.S. Women\u2019s National Team soccer phenom Megan Rapinoe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe implore you, the NCAA\u2019s highest governing body and members of an organization focused on supporting the wellbeing of not just athletes but sport itself, to focus on the long-documented needs of NCAA athletes of all genders,\u201d the athletes\u2019 letter read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In their letter, the GOP senators argued that \u201cscience\u201d on the issue \u201cis clear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMales have inherent athletic advantages over females due to their anatomy and biology\u2014including through having larger hearts, higher red blood count, greater lung capacity, longer endurance, larger muscle mass, differences in bone density and geometry, and lower body fat,\u201d the senators\u2019 letter continues. \u201cConsistently, when adult males\u2019 athletic performance is contrasted with adult females\u2019 athletic performance in sports relying on endurance, muscle strength, speed, and power, males dominate, outperforming females by 10 to 30 percent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n