CrossFit Bans Trans Athlete From Competing With Women

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CrossFit has been sued by a transgender athlete after the organization blocked the woman from competing with other women at the CrossFit Games. Chloie Jönsson, who is legally recognized as a woman in the state of California and had reassignment surgery in 2006, filed the suit on Thursday, charging CrossFit with, "discrimination, intentional infliction of emotional distress and unfair competition." Jönsson sought to take part in the CrossFit Games last year, and was told she would have to compete with the men because she was born male.

CrossFit issued this letter to Jönsson, which was obtained by TMZ:

We have simply ruled that based upon [Jönsson] being born as a male, she will need to compete in the Men's Division. The fundamental, ineluctable fact is that a male competitor who has a sex reassignment procedure still has a genetic makeup that confers a physical and physiological advantage over women.

Our decision has nothing to do with 'ignorance' or being bigots -- it has to do with a very real understanding of the human genome, of fundamental biology, that you are either intentionally ignoring or missed in high school.

Sports institutions at large have struggled in their dealings with transgendered or more-masculine-seeming female athletes. Look at the way that the MMA industry has reacted to trans athlete Fallon Fox or the intense scrutiny faced by Olympic runner Caster Semenya. Jönsson hopes to change CrossFit's policy, which, as it currently stands, also serves to "out" transgendered competitors. "If I am going to be forced to out myself, I want it to be for the good for all transgendered people and athletes -- not because of a company's discriminatory policies," she said.
· Transgender athlete sues CrossFit for banning her from competing as female [CNN]
· CrossFit Sued by Transgender Athlete [TMZ]
· Why is CrossFit So Popular Right Now? [Racked]