Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) is applauding the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to ban transgender athletes in a social media statement.
To ensure biological males do not compete against biological females in Olympic events, the IOC announced it would employ genetic testing via saliva, cheek swabs, or blood.
"Eligibility for any female category event at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, including individual and team sports, is now limited to biological females, determined on the basis of a one‑time SRY gene screening," the IOC said in a presser.
Rep. Biggs said this was "not rocket science" on social media, writing, "Men are men and women are women. Men belong in men's sports, and women belong in women's sports. That's not rocket science; it's just basic biology and common sense. I applaud this decision from the IOC. Let's hope it is permanent. Time for all elected officials, including those in Arizona, to follow suit."
The Arizona lawmaker referenced Arizona House Bill 2003, which would similarly ban transgender athletes from women's sports. The bill gained national attention following the heated exchange between State Senator Catherine Miranda (D-11) and former Utah State volleyball player Kaylie Ray during a public hearing on the bill.
During the 2024 Olympics, Rep. Biggs commented on the fact that Algerian women's boxer Imane Khelif was allowed to compete despite being a biological male.
Khelif was previously disqualified by the Women's World Boxing Championship, but remained eligible under the IOC's rules, and Khelif's first opponent, Italy's Angela Carini, quit the match after receiving two shots from the Algerian.
Biggs reposted a comment from former University of Kentucky swimmer and women's sports activist Riley Gaines, who wrote, "After 46 seconds and a few hits to the face by a male, Carini forfeited the fight. Call me crazy, but It's almost as if women don't want to be punched in the face by a male as the world watches and applauds. This is glorified male violence against women."
