Texas Opens Probe Into Tennis League’s Transgender Athlete Policies

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated an investigation into the U.S. Tennis Association Texas League for potentially violating state law prohibiting biological males from competing in women’s sports. The facts here are straightforward: Texas has a law on the books, and Paxton is investigating whether that law has been broken. This is what attorneys general are supposed to do.

The investigation comes as part of a broader Republican effort nationwide to maintain biological distinctions in women’s athletics. The logic is simple: biological males possess inherent physical advantages over biological females in most sports. Bone density, muscle mass, lung capacity, and testosterone levels create measurable differences that no amount of hormone therapy fully eliminates. Allowing biological males to compete against women undermines the entire purpose of having separate categories in the first place.

“We will defeat the radical left, which is obsessed with crushing the dreams of so many girls by allowing men to compete against women in sports,” Paxton stated. The rhetoric may be pointed, but the underlying concern is legitimate. Female athletes have spent decades fighting for equal opportunities in sports. Title IX was passed specifically to ensure women had fair access to athletic competition. Now, that access is being compromised by policies that prioritize gender ideology over biological reality.

Paxton’s office issued a Civil Investigative Demand to the USTA Texas League, requesting documents and policies regarding transgender athlete participation. The attorney general wants to determine whether the organization violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act or other consumer protection laws. The consumer protection angle is particularly interesting: if female athletes are paying fees and entering competitions without being informed they will compete against biological males, that constitutes a potential deception.

“If USTA is allowing biological males in women’s matches and misleading players about who they are competing against, my office will take all necessary action within our power to defend Texas women and girls,” Paxton continued. The transparency issue matters. Athletes and their families deserve to know the full parameters of competition before entering.

According to Paxton’s office, the Civil Investigative Demand seeks information about how players are informed regarding transgender competitors. The USTA has responded by suing Paxton’s office, challenging both the demand and the underlying claims. This legal battle will likely determine the scope of state authority in regulating athletic organizations operating within their borders.

Earlier this year, Paxton also sued the NCAA over its transgender eligibility policy. That policy allowed biological males to practice with women’s teams but prohibited them from competing. Paxton argued the NCAA failed to fully comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order banning biological men from women’s sports.

The broader context matters here. The International Olympic Committee is reportedly reviewing its gender policy, suggesting even international bodies recognize the complications created by current transgender athlete policies. Female athletes across multiple sports have voiced concerns about fairness and safety when competing against biological males.

The left’s position on this issue remains baffling. The same people who championed women’s sports for decades now dismiss concerns about biological males competing against females as bigotry. This is not about denying anyone’s humanity or right to participate in athletics. It is about maintaining fair competition based on biological reality. Women’s sports exist because biological sex matters in athletic performance. Pretending otherwise does not make female athletes safer or competition fairer. It accomplishes the opposite.

Texas is enforcing its laws. That is what states do. The legal process will determine whether the USTA Texas League violated those laws.

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