Boise State University chose to forfeit Saturday's game against San Jose State University rather than risk the safety of members of its women's volleyball team. The undefeated San Jose State team includes Blair Fleming, who is biologically male but identifies as female.
Boise State is the second school to forfeit its game against San Jose State, with Southern Utah also choosing to forfeit its Sept. 14 game against San Jose State. Neither university has disclosed the official reason for withdrawing, but it is speculated that they probably forfeited the match. They are wary of letting females compete with teams that include biological males. The San Jose State team's record is 10-0, including two withdrawals.
Boise State announced its intention to withdraw from the game in a statement Friday. “The Boise State volleyball team will not play its scheduled game at San Jose State on Saturday, September 28th. Per Mountain West Conference policy, the conference will record the game as a record. It will be a forfeit for Boise State. The Broncos will next face Air Force on October 3.
Boise State was a little vague about the reason for canceling the game, but Republican Idaho Gov. Brad Little praised the decision.
“I applaud @BoiseState for living up to the spirit of my Executive Order in Defending Women's Sports Act. We will ensure the safety of all female athletes and demand equity in women's sports. We need to keep fighting,” Little posted on X.
The NCAA issued a tepid statement that didn't really address the issue. “College sports are the highest stage for women's sports in America, and NCAA members will continue to advance Title IX, make unprecedented investments in women's sports, and ensure fair competition for all.” All NCAA I was a student-athlete in the championship. ”
Before the game, the Independent Council on Women's Sports (ICONS) sent a letter to the Mountain West Conference urging it to do more to protect female athletes.
“Over the past several weeks, we have been speaking with distraught student-athletes, their parents, coaches, and administrators across the Mountain West Conference (MWC) about the crisis in MWC women's volleyball,” the letter said. It is written. “Currently, the MWC, an NCAA affiliated athletic conference, is comprised of all but one public university, California State University and MWC member San Jose State University (SJSU), and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). ) by implementing and enforcing the NCAA's Transgender Eligibility Policy (TEP) and allowing Blair Fleming, a man who identifies as transgender, to play on the SJSU women's volleyball team. It violates federal law.”
The Icons are suing the NCAA for creating unfair competition in women's track and field. The lawsuit is spearheaded by Riley Gaines, a Kentucky swimmer who missed out on the trophy after tying with male swimmer Leah Thomas.
“This lawsuit against the NCAA is not just about competition. It's a fight for the essence of women's sports,” said Marci Smith, co-founder of Icons and NCAA swimming champion. “We stand up for justice and the right of female athletes to compete on a level playing field. It upholds the legacy of Title IX and ensures that the future of women’s sports is as bright as the past.” That's what I do.''
Further complicating matters, Flemings teammate and senior co-captain Brooke Slusser, a San Jose State player, is joining a class action lawsuit along with more than a dozen female athletes. Slusser claims she was not made aware of the presence of a biological male on the team and was assigned a room with her on the expedition.
Slusser first noticed Fleming's problems on the court, and the suit notes that Fleming “played volleyball with greater jumping and power than any other female player on the team.” The safety of the women on the team is a major concern for Slusser.
“One of the important things about this case is the issue of physical safety in volleyball,” Slusser's attorney Bill Bock said, according to Outkick Sports. “And that's what they face in practice every day. So this is just a crazy, misguided move that takes the dream of sports away from women and gives it to men, and at the same time puts women's health and safety at risk.” It is the policy of
San Jose State initially tried to hide Fleming's gender. When the matter became public, they advised team members not to talk about it publicly, explaining that otherwise “things would get worse for the team members.”
Unfortunately for Fleming and other men who want to play in women's sports, women are standing up and fighting against this nonsense. This is the ideal way to promote the active participation of women.
