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Candace Owens demands Lia Thomas be banned from women’s sports, arguing for fairness and the integrity of female competition. See full story in first comment…đđ
Candace Owens Demands Lia Thomas Be Banned from Womenâs Sports, Argues for Fairness and Integrity of Female Competition
Conservative commentator Candace Owens has reignited the debate over transgender athletes in womenâs sports, demanding that Lia Thomas, the transgender swimmer who made headlines for competing in womenâs NCAA events, be banned from womenâs sports entirely. Owens argues that Thomasâs participation in womenâs competitions undermines fairness and the integrity of female athletics.
Owens’ Stance on Fairness in Sports
In a recent broadcast, Owens voiced her strong opinion on the issue, claiming that allowing transgender women to compete in female categories gives them an unfair advantage. She stated:
“Lia Thomas should be banned from competing in womenâs sports. Itâs simply not fair. Biological males, even after transitioning, retain physical advantages over women, and itâs crucial that we protect the integrity of womenâs sports.”
Owensâ remarks come after Thomasâs controversial victory in the 500-yard freestyle at the 2022 NCAA Championships, where she became the first openly transgender woman to win an NCAA Division I national title in any sport. While Thomasâs victory was celebrated by many for breaking barriers, it sparked heated debates about competitive fairness, especially among female athletes who questioned the advantage that transgender women may have due to physical characteristics like size and muscle mass.
The Broader Debate
Owensâ call to ban Thomas from womenâs sports is part of a larger ongoing discussion about the inclusion of transgender athletes in competitive sports. Critics, like Owens, argue that the inclusion of transgender women, particularly those who have transitioned from male to female, can create an unlevel playing field. They point to physical differences such as bone density, muscle mass, and cardiovascular capabilities, which may not be fully mitigated by hormone replacement therapy.
On the other hand, supporters of transgender athletesâ rights to compete in the gender with which they identify argue that inclusion is essential for equality and human dignity. Many believe that excluding transgender women from womenâs sports is discriminatory and harmful to their mental and emotional well-being.
Impact on Womenâs Sports
Owens also addressed the broader implications for female athletes in her commentary. She emphasized that allowing transgender women to compete in womenâs sports could discourage young female athletes from pursuing their goals.
“We are sending the wrong message to young girls who work hard to compete at the highest levels,” she said. “What weâre telling them is that no matter how much they train, someone who was biologically male could come into their category and win with relative ease.”
This argument reflects concerns that womenâs sports could be dominated by athletes with male biological advantages, potentially sidelining the hard-earned achievements of cisgender women in sports.