Supreme Court upholds state bans on biological males in female sports

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld state laws in West Virginia and Idaho that prohibit biological males from competing in female sports categories. The 6-3 decision rejected legal challenges to the measures. Twenty-seven states currently maintain similar restrictions.

Background of the cases The disputes reached the court after several athletes filed suits arguing that the bans violated equal-protection principles. Lower courts had issued conflicting rulings on the policies.

Reactions from athletes Former college swimmer Riley Gaines said the ruling means states may create a sports category solely for women without it being unconstitutional. "This ruling just means that having a sports category solely for women isn't unconstitutional," Gaines said.

Retired professional soccer player Elizabeth Eddy stated she was thankful for the outcome but noted further steps remain. "I'm so thankful," Eddy said. Former swimmer Paula Scanlan, now a senior fellow at the American Principles Project, recalled earlier pressure on athletes who raised concerns.

"We were told we were bigots," Scanlan said. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote for the majority that sports are competitive and zero-sum, adding that female athletes care deeply about fairness in their divisions.