ESPN reporter Katie Barnes has argued that male athletes do not have an advantage while competing in women’s sports.
Barnes, a woman who claims to be “non-binary,” argues that male athletes are equal to females if they “identify” as transgender.
She alleges that there isn’t enough scientific evidence to support arguments that “transgender women” would have an advantage over real women in sports.
Barnes made the claims during an appearance on CNN’s “The Lead” with Jake Tapper.
The host asked Barnes about the “narrative” that transgender athletes have an advantage and whether studies supported that notion.
“I think it depends on what you mean by support that,” Barnes said.
“From my reporting, the reality is that from a scientific perspective, we know that there are differences in sexes, and we know the differences do tend to lead to athletic performance differences as well.
“However, when we look at broad-based restrictions at all levels of sport, it’s very challenging to say that scientifically that is supported in all cases.
“Meaning that, something that might be appropriate for swimming does not necessarily apply to basketball, when it comes to individual sports versus team sports, as well as level of competition.
“So, I think the idea that transgender women [sic] have an advantage in all sports at all times regardless of any kind of medical transition, I don’t think that the scientific literature supports that at this time.”
Despite Barnes making multiple anti-scientific claims, Tapper simply nodded along in agreement and didn’t ask her for any supporting evidence.
WATCH:
Disgusting. CNN's Jake Tapper brought in a non-binary ESPN writer (who uses "they"/"them" pronouns) to denounce the #NAIA's new policy to protect women's sports from biological men.
The guest, Katie Barnes, claims that it's not scientifically proven that biological men would… pic.twitter.com/sI4unT2aKM
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) April 9, 2024
In 2021, the British Journal of Sports Medicine published a study that men claiming to be “transgender women” maintain an advantage over real women.
They retain this advantage even after a year of hormone therapy treatment.
At the time, Dr. Timothy Roberts, the director of the adolescent medicine training program at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, told NBC News:
“For the Olympic level, the elite level, I’d say probably two years is more realistic than one year.
“At one year, the trans women [sic] on average still have an advantage over the cis women.”
“Cis women” is a slur used by the radical Left to refer to real women.
Barnes was also asked about the NAIA’s decision to prohibit transgenders from competing against real women in sports.
“I think it’s reflective of the times,” Barnes said.
“We are in terms of, for the last 3 or 4 years, we have seen most policy updates – when it comes to transgender athletes – be reflective of restriction and this seems to fall right in line with that.”
