Washington state's high school sports league puts onus for trans athlete controversy on state laws

Washington state has been rocked in recent weeks by a controversy involving a male cross-country runner who switched from a boys team to a girls team mid-season. The controversy culminated in a protest Tuesday, when about a dozen female runners for Camas High School walked off the course, refusing to compete with their new male teammate.

The association governing Washington school sports says state law prevents it from implementing the proposed changes to its participation policy.

In a statement to OutKick, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) said it cannot adopt a new policy to keep males out of girls sports, even if its members vote for a policy change, as it would be "in violation of Washington state law."

DAD BANNED FROM SCHOOL GROUNDS AFTER PROTESTING TRANS RUNNER COMPETING AGAINST HIS DAUGHTER

"In the last two years, through the associations amendment process, three amendments have been proposed to alter the gender-identity participation policies. Those amendments did not meet the 60% threshold to pass. Nevertheless, even if the amendments had met the threshold and passed, the WIAA cannot implement a policy that is in violation of Washington state law and the amendments proposed would have violated state law. If state law changes, the WIAA Executive Board will revise policies as necessary to remain in compliance with state law," part of the WIAAs statement read.

Washington voters are set to decide whether to change the rules next month.

Initiative 638, which would prohibit biological male students from competing in certain female-only school sports and require a healthcare provider's verification of biological sex, will be on the state ballot on Nov. 3.

Democrats currently hold majorities in both chambers of the state legislature and control the governors office. Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson has expressed opposition to Initiative 638.

WHERE TOP DEMOCRAT SENATE CANDIDATES AND THEIR GOP OPPONENTS STAND ON TRANS ATHLETES IN WOMEN'S SPORTS

"Washingtonians should know that I-638 wont create opportunities for girls, but it will force them into invasive sex verification exams in order to participate in sports," Ferguson said in a statement published Sept. 29 by the opposition campaign, No Hate in WA State.

The measure reached the ballot after lawmakers took no action on it during the 2026 session. Earlier this year, Democratic legislative leaders said they would leave the decision to voters.

The vote will come as the state grapples with multiple controversies involving males in girls sports, including the Camas cross-country runner and a separate incident involving a transgender wrestler who allegedly sexually assaulted a female athlete during a match last December, according to the female athletes lawsuit. Prosecutors declined to file criminal charges in that case.

In its statement to OutKi