Former national champion gymnast and XX-XY Athletics CEO Jennifer Sey has publicly backed President Trump's executive order aimed at preventing transgender athletes from participating in women's sports. This order, signed on Wednesday, has sparked significant debate and raises questions about its implementation given ongoing legal battles, differing state regulations, and evolving guidelines from sports organizations.

Officially titled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports," the order mandates that schools and universities receiving federal funding and subject to Title IX regulations cannot permit biological males on women's sports teams or in women's locker rooms and restrooms. Non-compliant institutions risk investigations and potential loss of federal funding.

The order emphasizes the U.S. policy of withholding funds from educational programs that diminish fair athletic opportunities for women and girls, citing concerns about safety, fairness, dignity, and truth.

Matt Sharp, a senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), explained the order's impact on educational institutions. He emphasized the primacy of Title IX compliance, suggesting that conflicting state laws must yield to federal regulations. ADF has been actively involved in legal challenges against state laws allowing transgender athletes to compete with females, arguing that such laws contradict the original intent of Title IX.

Sharp reiterated that federal law overrides state law in these matters, aligning with the Trump administration's stance that allowing biological males to compete in women's sports undermines equal opportunity for female athletes.

Following the executive order, the NCAA, which had previously been slow to address the issue, revised its policy to prohibit biological males from women's sports, aligning with the order's directive. Sharp welcomed the NCAA's updated policy as a positive development, though he believes further action is necessary, particularly regarding locker room access.

He highlighted the distress experienced by female athletes like Riley Gaines due to shared locker room access with biological males and urged the NCAA to prioritize the privacy and safety of female athletes.

The executive order also calls on the Secretary of State to advocate for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to amend its standards to ensure fairness and safety for female athletes by basing eligibility on sex rather than gender identity. This raises questions about the application of the order in the context of the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, especially considering the IOC's recent support for athletes whose birth sex is disputed.

Sharp expressed hope that the IOC would independently adopt policies excluding biological males from women's sports. He also emphasized the need for Supreme Court clarification to ensure consistent guidelines across presidential administrations.

The Biden-Harris administration's previous attempt to redefine sex discrimination within Title IX to encompass gender identity faced widespread criticism and legal challenges. A federal judge subsequently blocked these changes nationwide. Sharp expressed hope for a definitive Supreme Court ruling to uphold the original intent of Title IX and safeguard opportunities for women based on biological sex.

The Department of Education has initiated investigations into several universities and athletic associations for reported Title IX violations, demonstrating its commitment to enforcing regulations and protecting female athletes.