In a revelation that has sparked outrage and concern for the integrity of women’s sports, the United Nations has disclosed that female athletes have been deprived of nearly 900 medals due to competition against biologically male athletes who identify as transgender. This staggering figure emerges from a report titled “Violence Against Women and Girls in Sports,” which documents losses across 400 competitions in 29 different sports, highlighting a systemic issue that undermines the very principles of fair play and equality in sports.
The report, drafted by Reem Alsalem, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, was presented to the United Nations General Assembly and paints a grim picture of the current state of female athletics. Alsalem’s findings indicate not only a loss of medals but also an increase in sexual harassment, assault, and voyeurism—both during competitions and in spaces like locker rooms and bathrooms. This intrusion of men in female sports, she argues, imposes new forms of discrimination against women and girls.
The move to allow males into female sports categories blatantly strips female athletes of their rights to safety, dignity, and fairness, as highlighted by harrowing testimonials from athletes who have suffered physically and mentally due to this policy. For instance, Payton McNabb, a former high school volleyball player, recounted a severe injury inflicted by a transgender athlete that left her with long-term neurological and psychological damage. Similarly, collegiate swimmer Kylee Alon expressed feelings of violation for having to share private spaces with biological males, encapsulating a widespread sentiment of disregard for female athlete’s privacy and safety.
These personal stories underscore a broader issue: the policies currently favored by progressive circles and enforced by bodies such as the NCAA are not just failing our women, but are actively harming them. By prioritizing ideological agendas over biological realities, these policies compromise not only the competitive fairness but also the personal well-being of female athletes.
Moreover, even when regulatory bodies require biological males to undergo testosterone suppression before competing in female categories, these measures fall short. As Alsalem rightly points out, such pharmaceutical interventions cannot negate the inherent physical advantages these athletes have, which are not merely hormonal but also physiological.
This report from the United Nations, highlighting the extensive disadvantages imposed on female athletes, serves as a critical wake-up call. We must recognize the harm these progressive policies are inflicting—not just on sports but on young women whose careers and dreams are being sidelined. It’s time for those who champion these policies to reckon with their impacts and for those of us who value fairness and the safety of women to stand firm against these injustices. The integrity of women’s sports, and more fundamentally, the rights and dignity of female athletes, must be upheld.
