The United States Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights has initiated an investigation into the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and Jurupa Unified School District over the participation of a transgender athlete in female sports, which may breach Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. This inquiry aims to assess whether such practices have compromised equal opportunities for female athletes.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) will work in conjunction with the Department of Education on this matter. Legal notices were issued coinciding with the DOJ’s filing of a statement of interest in federal court supporting a lawsuit by female athletes seeking to clarify Title IX’s interpretation to ensure equal educational opportunities and prevent sex-based discrimination in federally funded schools and sports programs.
Harmeet Dhillon, the Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division, has been assigned the responsibility of investigating compliance with Title IX.
Dhillon stated, “Title IX exists to protect women and girls in education. It is perverse to allow males to compete against girls, invade their private spaces, and take their trophies.” The Division aims to vigorously uphold women’s rights to equal educational opportunities.
The investigation stems from complaints regarding CIF’s policy, specifically CIF Bylaw 300D, which allows male athletes to compete in girls’ interscholastic athletics. Critics assert that this policy has resulted in male athletes securing titles in events traditionally designated for females, such as triple jump and long jump, thus displacing female athletes from podium finishes and team positions.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has referred to this practice as “deeply unfair” to female athletes during a discussion with conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk. The DOJ has clarified that no conclusions have yet been drawn regarding the investigation’s findings and reaffirmed its commitment to evaluating all pertinent information.
