A Minnesota state court ruled that USA Powerlifting must permit men to compete as women in its industry.
USA Powerlifting loses court battle against transgender athlete, ruled guilty of discrimination. The sport must now allow men to compete against women. https://t.co/7O6s8FlpPX — Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 5, 2023
In 2019, powerlifter JayCee Cooper, a man who identifies as a woman, filed a complaint with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, stating that USA Powerlifting violated the state's Human Rights Act by prohibiting him and other athletes from competing in the female division.
Cooper then filed a lawsuit against the organization in 2021.
"I was fed up with the way that I was being treated; I was fed up with the way that my community was being treated, and enough was enough," Cooper told KARE-TV.
"After years of experiencing discrimination from USA Powerlifting, and the backlash that has occurred due to that, of course I have complex feelings about the sport," Cooper said. "But I think that this win — [it] is a representation of where we can move forward."
The ruling mandates that USA Powerlifting "cease and desist from all unfair discriminatory practices." The organization has two weeks to revise its policy.
USA Powerlifting president Larry Maile criticized the decision, noting that males have a particular advantage over females in powerlifting.
"Our position has been aimed at balancing the needs of cis- and transgender women [sic], whose capacities differ significantly in purely strength sports," he said.
"We have received a summary judgment decision from the Court finding us liable for discrimination. We respectfully disagree with the Court's conclusions. We are considering all of our options, including appeal," Maile added.