weak men rob women.

Debate Surrounds Trans-Identified Male Competing in Boston Marathon Women’s Division

By TSR

Boston, MA - Kathrine Switzer's courageous fight to compete in the Boston Marathon in 1967, challenging the belief that women were incapable of running long distances and breaking through exclusionary barriers, was a groundbreaking moment for equality in sports. To reflect on her struggle and triumph—earning the right for women to compete—only to now see individuals like Riya Suising, a trans-identified male, entering women’s divisions and taking opportunities and recognition away from female athletes is utterly shocking, unfair, and a disservice to the progress made in women’s sports. 

In 1967, Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon, defying rules that restricted the race to men. At the time, many men—and even some athletic authorities—held the belief that women were physically inferior and incapable of enduring long-distance running. It was widely thought that such efforts could harm women’s health or reproductive abilities, making events like marathons unsuitable for them. Switzer registered under the initials "K.V. Switzer," which allowed her entry to go unnoticed. Mid-race, she faced backlash when race official Jock Semple tried to physically remove her from the course, shouting that she had no right to compete. Switzer’s determination to finish the race and prove these assumptions wrong became a pivotal moment in the fight for gender equality in sports, ultimately leading to the Boston Marathon officially allowing women to compete in 1972.

Riya Suising, who has competed in several marathons under the women’s division, has become a focal point in this debate. The case of Riya Suising underscores the contentious nature of current policies regarding trans-identified males and their participation in women's sports. Suising, a man competing in the women’s division of the Boston Marathon, raises significant concerns about fairness and equity. Allowing a male athlete to compete against women sets a dangerous precedent, undermining the integrity of women’s athletics and disregarding the physical advantages men retain. These policies erode the progress women have fought for in securing fair and equal opportunities in competitive sports and should be abolished. 

Women’s categories were established not to discriminate but to provide equitable opportunities for female athletes to compete and excel. By permitting Suising to compete in the women’s division, this purpose is fundamentally undermined, as it allows a competitor who is not a woman to participate in a woman's category.  Allowing trans-identified males with male physiological traits to compete in women’s categories is a step backward, jeopardizing the competitive integrity that pioneers like Switzer fought to secure and also putting women at risk for injury. 

The Boston Marathon, as one of the most prestigious events in distance running, carries significant symbolic weight. Allowing Suising, a man,  to compete in the women’s division diminishes this symbolism by introducing factors that compromise the fairness of the competition. Upholding the integrity of the competition is not exclusionary but rather a necessary safeguard to preserve the spirit of sportsmanship and the hard-won achievements of women in athletics.