Caitlyn Jenner Doubles Down On Ban For Transgender Athletes To NOT Play On Girls' Sports Teams

Caitlyn Jenner has reiterated that she stands by her polarising remarks that transgender female athletes should not be eligible to compete in girls' sports teams.

The 71-year-old long-time Republican has announced her bid to run against Governor Gavin Newsom in the California recall election.

Jenner said in a statement in April that California capital Sacramento "needs an honest leader with a clear vision."

But the former Olympian caused a huge backlash after she openly opposed the idea of trans girls playing on girls' sports teams in school.

"I oppose biological boys who are trans competing in girls' sports in school," Jenner told TMZ this month.

"It just isn't fair. And we have to protect girls' sports in our schools."

Trans girls' participation in girls' sports has become a hotly divisive issue in the US as states like Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kansas have banned it from happening.

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Jenner has since doubled down on her position, saying that they have to "make sure that the integrity of girls' sports is there."

The American reality TV star told Fox News this month: "I stick with my statements that I made.

"I think we have to make sure that the integrity of girls' sports is there, I think that's extremely important.

"But there's more to it than just what I said, because I just said 'biological boys in sports' -- there's more to it than that, and I think in the future I will explain more of that.

"For me, as a trans woman, I think role models are extremely important for young people. Trans issues, people struggle with big time. Our suicide rate is nine times higher than the general public.

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"And for me to be a role model for them, to be out there, I'm running for governor for the state of California -- who would have ever thought that? We've never even had a woman governor."

US international Megan Rapinoe has slammed Jenner over her trans remarks after saying that she is "not an exceptional politician."

Meanwhile, Dr Veronica Ivy has hit out at Jenner's comments by claiming that there is no current evidence to prove that trans girls have an advantage over other girls in sports.

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice was also ripped apart by a US news anchor over his decision to sign the bill to ban trans girls from playing on girls' sports teams in schools.

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz is a journalist for SPORTbible. He studied for a B.A. in History at the University of York and followed it up with an M.A. in Multimedia Journalism at MMU. Before he started writing about sports, he spent over four years in the gaming press. He has worked for several publications, including Hardcore Gamer, LADbible and the Manchester Evening News. Follow him on Twitter to find out what he is working on next. Got a story tip for Adnan? Email him: [email protected]

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