One of ESPN’s biggest stars has spoken out against the Biden administration’s plan to reform the rules around transgender participation in sports — breaking with her network and claiming it was unfair to let trans women compete alongside biological women.
ESPN supports trans women in competition and last month featured transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in their segment dedicated to Women’s History Month.
But Samantha Ponder, host of Sunday NFL Countdown, said she disagreed with trans women in competition.
She spoke out amid a heated debate sparked by the Biden administration’s proposed Title IX reform.
Samantha Ponder, an ESPN reporter, spoke out against the Biden administration’s proposed Title IX reform on Wednesday, arguing that it would allow trans women to compete against biological women, which she said was unfair
Riley Gaines (right) is seen in March 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia after swimming against Lia Thomas (left) at the NCAA Championships
Title IX, introduced in 1972, prohibits gender discrimination in schools or other educational programs that receive funding from the federal government.
The Biden administration proposed an amendment to the law that would prevent a blanket ban on transgender people in school sports. Any school that enacted such a ban would no longer receive federal funding.
The Biden administration says they find it unlikely there would ever be a justification for banning trans children from participating in competitions in primary school.
However, the plan would allow for a ban on trans athletes for “fairness in competition” — paving the way for a possible ban on athletes like Lia Thomas.
The vague nature of the ruling has angered both those who support transgender inclusion in sport and those campaigning against it.
Lia Thomas said the proposed law change didn’t go far enough to guarantee transgender people the right to compete.
Riley Gaines, a swimmer who raced against Thomas in 2022 and has since become an outspoken campaigner against trans women in sports, said the Biden plan did not do enough to block trans athletes.
“The Biden Admins bill denies science, truth and common sense,” Gaines tweeted.
“This is selfish and shows total disregard for women.
“The Biden administration is actively and aggressively working to pass laws that eliminate decent and fair treatment for women in sports. @POTUS.’
Lia Thomas can be seen in the ESPN clip describing how switching was the only option for her
Texas-born Thomas pitches for the University of Pennsylvania
Ponder agreed with Gaines, tweeting on Wednesday, “This would take away so many opportunities for biological women and girls in sports.
“It’s a shame that we have to fight for the integrity of Title IX in 2023 and the reason why it was needed in the first place. #savewomensports.’
In April 2016, ESPN fired Curt Schilling, a baseball analyst for ESPN and former Boston Red Sox pitcher, over his comments about transgender bathrooms.
Schilling shared a Facebook post mocking critics of recent laws passed in North Carolina and other states that prohibit transgender men and women from using public restrooms that match their gender preferences.
Schilling added his own comment to the post, criticizing trans people.
“A man is a man, whatever they call themselves,” Schilling wrote.
‘I don’t care what they are, who they sleep with, the men’s room is designed for the penis, the women’s not so much. Now you need laws that tell us otherwise? Miserable.’
Gaines has become one of the most outspoken critics of trans women in sports, joining Martina Navratilova and Caitlyn Jenner for saying it’s unfair.
Gaines appeared on Piers Morgan’s show Tuesday night to discuss the hostile reception she received when she was invited to give a speech at San Francisco State University, and to talk about her activism.
Gaines swam for the University of Kentucky and finished her college career in 2022 as “one of the most decorated swimmers in the program’s history,” according to the UK website. She became a 12-time NCAA All-American swimmer and a five-time SEC champion.
Gaines took on Thomas, a swimmer from the University of Pennsylvania, in the NCAA Championships in March 2022, saying the experience of racing with Thomas — who competed in the men’s competition until 2019 — “felt like going into the race with my hands tied. my back.’
Gaines addressed ESPN’s decision last month to praise Thomas’ contribution to women’s sports, tweeting the hashtag “Boycott ESPN.”
“Lia Thomas is not a brave, courageous woman who EARNED a national title,” Gaines tweeted.
“He is an arrogant, cheater who STOLEN a national title from a hard-working, deserving woman. The @ncaa is responsible.
“If I were a woman who worked at ESPN, I’d run away. You are spineless @espn #boycottESPN.”
ESPN’s segment was titled, “Celebrating Women’s History Month.”
A voiceover explained how Thomas made history by becoming the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division One championship in the 500 freestyle in 2022.
The Texas-born athlete swam in men’s competitions until the start of their transition in May 2019 and made her debut in women’s races in December 2021.
“Being trans isn’t a choice,” says Thomas. ‘I had no other choice, because not switching got me nowhere.
“People will say, ‘Oh, she just switched so she would have an advantage so she could win.’
“I switched to be happy.”
DailyMail.com has reached out to both ESPN and Thomas’ representative and has yet to hear anything.
Thomas became the first trans athlete to win an NCAA Division One championship title
Gaines can be seen at a rally this January outside the NCAA convention in San Antonio
Thomas’s competition as a woman was highly controversial.
The swimmer had hoped to try out for the 2024 Paris Olympics after graduating – but that now looks unlikely given new rules requiring trans athletes to transition before the age of 12 before June 2022.
Gaines, who studied public health and is now entering dentistry, has become one of the most outspoken advocates against trans women in sports.
“Whether they have different lung capacities, their height, testosterone levels or whether or not they’ve taken testosterone blockers – it doesn’t suppress puberty as a man. Especially Lia, who swam as a male for three years,” Gaines told Fox News’ Tucker Carlson in April 2022.
“Lia Thomas has shown extreme selfishness and a great lack of awareness – and just a total disregard for women.”
Gaines said Thomas’s participation in women’s collegiate swimming is part of a broader problem in society.
“We’re looking at the denial of the most basic truths,” she said.
“If you can’t recognize what a woman is, there’s a huge problem.
“This goes deeper than just sports. This is a systematic erasure of what a woman is.’