House Oversight Committee Holds Hearing Examining Female Athletics And Title IX - Source: Getty

"Stop blaming others for your failures" - Riley Gaines raises concerns about NCAA's accountability on women's sports

Modified Dec 18, 2024 03:37 GMT

Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines recently raised concerns about the NCAA's accountability on the issue of women's sports. The autonomous sporting body in the USA was recently summoned to the Capitol Hill over its current policies, especially the inclusion of trans athletes in women's sports.

As the senators grilled the NCAA administration, Charlie Baker, who heads NCAA, dismissed the concerns and said that if the female athletes are not comfortable with the presence of the trans athletes, they can look for other facilities. However, many of the senators were not impressed with his views, and they called Baker out for not taking action over the concerns of the female athletes.

Senator Josh Hawley criticized Baker for his conduct, as he posted on his X handle,

"Listen to NCAA President Charlie Baker hem and haw and blame everyone from courts to “the locals” for HIS policy allowing men in women’s sports. It’s indefensible - and he knows it"

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Gaines shared Hawley's post on her X handle as she recounted her legal battle against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas. She wrote,

"At the hands of NCAA leadership, my teammates & I had to strip down naked in front of a 6'4", fully intact, naked man. Read that again. Where's the accountability @NCAA? Stop blaming others for your failures. Thanks to @HawleyMO for holding their feet to the fire."

Riley Gaines has been persistently campaigning against the inclusion of trans athletes in women's sports. She had previously sued the NCAA over their current policy alongside 16 other athletes in early 2024.

Riley Gaines reacts amid ongoing Senate Judiciary hearing against NCAA

Riley Gaines reacts to the Senate judiciary hearing against NCAA [Image Source : Getty]

During the ongoing Senate hearing against the NCAA, the NCAA head Charlie Baker was questioned by several senators, including Josh Hawley and John Kennedy, for not taking action over the inclusion of trans athletes in women's sports.

Baker defended his organization by claiming that the federal laws didn't allow him to make changes, and that NCAA is not accountable to Title IX. However, Hawley didn't agree with his claims and mentioned,

"Let’s just dispense with that canard. No federal court has ordered the NCAA to include biological men in women’s sports. There’s not a single case that has ordered the NCAA to do so.”

Hawley further added,

"You are in court at this moment arguing that Title IX doesn't apply to the NCAA which is astounding to me given the amount of federal money the NCAA gets."

Gaines reacted to the situation by sharing the video as she commented on her X handle,

"The NCAA is led by cowards who can't find it within themselves to protect women."

Previously, Riley Gaines had called out the NCAA for not addressing the concerns about the participation of trans athlete Blaire Fleming in the NCAA Mountain West Conference Volleyball League. Fleming represented the San Jose State University, which faced massive criticism for the decision.