A group of Republican lawmakers is urging the Mountain West Conference to ban transgender women from participating in women’s collegiate sports, citing violations of Title IX and gender equity guidelines. The lawmakers, including prominent figures like Sen. Mitt Romney and Sen. Mike Crapo, argue that allowing biological men to compete in women’s sports is unjust and unfair. The controversy stems from reports of a transgender student-athlete on the San José State University women’s volleyball team, leading to lawsuits against the NCAA and the conference. The player in question, Brooke Slusser, is involved in legal actions against the NCAA over the participation of transgender women in women’s sports. Several women’s volleyball teams within the conference have opted to forfeit matches against SJSU in response to the speculation about a transgender player. The university maintains that its athletes comply with NCAA and conference policies and are eligible to participate under the rules set by those organizations. A university spokesperson expressed concerns about the students being used for political purposes and highlighted the importance of creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all student-athletes. The transgender player at the center of the controversy has not commented publicly on the matter.
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