Rep. Steube Reintroduces Legislation to Protect USA Women’s Olympic and Amateur Sports
WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today reintroduced The Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act. This bill will restore proper eligibility requirements for amateur sports governing bodies to prohibit biological males from interfering in women’s sports by participating in athletic events intended for females.
“From the swimming pool to the boxing ring, far-left activists have hijacked the rulebook to push their extremist agenda onto sports governing bodies. Not only is this antithetical to the principles of fair competition, but it constitutes a direct assault on the future of women’s sports altogether,” said Rep. Steube. “It is more important than ever that we stand up for common sense by prohibiting biological males from competing in female athletics. That is why I have reintroduced The Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act to protect the integrity of women’s sports from woke ideologues.”
For the second straight year, Rep. Steube partnered with 26 of his House colleagues as well as Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama who proposed companion legislation for The Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act in the Senate.
“Men should not be competing in women’s sports at any level,” said Senator Tuberville. “We were all deeply disturbed last summer to see videos of men boxing against women in the Olympics. This is not only dangerous but it is incredibly unfair to the young women who have trained their whole lives to compete. Whether in little league or the Olympics, it’s unsafe, it’s unfair, and it’s just plain wrong. I am proud to introduce this bill and hope to see it signed into law long before the United States hosts the 2028 Summer Olympics so we can all enjoy watching safe, fair competition.”
The Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act boasts the support of a broad coalition of organizations including the Independent Council on Women’s Sports, the American Principles Project, Eagle Forum, Women’s Liberation Front, the Alliance Defending Freedom, Concerned Women for America, and the Independent Women’s Voice.
“Women and girls deserve the opportunity to compete in sports on a level playing field, free from unfair competition with male athletes in their own categories. With no national governing body of Olympic sports currently barring all males from women’s categories, this glaring inequity undermines opportunities for female athletes and the integrity of women’s sports. Congressman Steube’s Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act is a vital step to ensure fairness, empower women, and preserve the future of women’s athletics.” —Independent Council on Women’s Sports
“The era of blind Congressional approval is over. Organizations like USA Swimming and USA Volleyball have abused their authority under the Ted Stevens Act to replace women in sports with men, and that’s exactly why the Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act is necessary. On the cusp of hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics, Congress should do everything in its power to ensure the female athletes representing our country are actually women. Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee is proud to support Representative Steube’s continued efforts to promote integrity in women’s sports.” —Penny Nance, President and CEO, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee
“It’s obvious that men do not belong in women’s sports. Yet despite the overwhelming support for this position among the American people, too many sports bodies still allow men who claim to be women to compete against female athletes. This is incredibly unfair to women, and it needs to end. APP is grateful to Congressman Steube and Senator Tuberville for their long standing leadership in defense of women’s sports, and we are proud to once again support this legislation.” —Terry Schilling, President of American Principles Project
“On numerous occasions, women have been sidelined and victimized due to extreme transgender ideology. It’s time to keep men out of women’s sports. We applaud Representative Steube for his leadership on this issue and urge all members of Congress—regardless of party—to vote for The Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act.” —Kris Ullman, President of Eagle Forum
“Women’s Liberation Front applauds Rep. Steube’s legislation aimed at preserving women’s sports for women and girls. The world witnessed the travesty carried out in Women’s Olympic Boxing in 2024 when the International Olympic Committee allowed men to box women. The men of course won, robbing real women of medals and titles they trained for years to win. We appreciate this legislation as a return to sanity and a decisive move to protect women’s sports.” —Women’s Liberation Front
“Women and girls should never be reduced to spectators in their own sports. Allowing men to deprive women of medals, podium spots, public recognition, and opportunities to compete is unfair and unacceptable. Our laws must acknowledge the clear biological differences between men and women in order to preserve equal athletic opportunities for female athletes. Women and girls deserve a fair and level playing field. We applaud Rep. Steube for his leadership on this bill.” —Matt Sharp, Director of the Center for Public Policy and senior counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom
“I appreciate Senator Tuberville and Representative Stuebe for their leadership on protecting women and girls in athletics. Allowing even a single female athlete to be displaced by a male is discriminatory, risky, and unfair. And it must be stopped. That is precisely what lifelong sports advocate Senator Ted Stevens would want — equality in sports, preserving the safety, fairness and equal opportunity for female athletes. This bill will do just that.” —Paula Scanlan, Independent Women’s Voice Ambassador
“As a former athlete who was forced to compete against a male, resulting in a life-altering injury, it’s crucial to recognize that allowing men’s participation in women’s sports not only deprives women of opportunities but also exposes them to significant danger. I deeply admire Representative Steube and Senator Tuberville for their leadership in addressing this issue and standing up for fairness and safety, especially for women,” —Payton McNabb, Independent Women’s Voice Ambassador
Read the bill text here.
