Texas A&M Launches Inquiry Into Trans Athlete's Participation in Women's Weight-lifting Meet

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, November 25th 2025 at 18:38 GMT by Fox News

Texas A&M Investigates Trans Athlete’s Participation in Women’s Weight‑lifting Competition

In a story that has quickly made the headlines across the nation, Texas A&M University is launching a formal inquiry into a recent weight‑lifting meet that raised questions about transgender athletes’ eligibility to compete against women. The investigation centers on an event that took place last month, where a trans woman—whose name has been revealed as Alex Cohen—competed against female athletes in the “State‑Wide Junior Women’s Weight‑lifting Championships.” The incident has drawn scrutiny from athletes, coaches, governing bodies, and the broader sports community, prompting the university to act in a bid to ensure fairness and adherence to state regulations.

The Incident

According to the Fox News report, the meet was held in Harris County under the auspices of the Texas Youth Weight‑lifting Association (TYWA). The event, which drew dozens of participants from across the state, featured multiple weight categories for girls and women under 18 years old. While the competition was largely routine, a controversy erupted when Alex Cohen, a 16‑year‑old trans woman, entered the 48‑kg division. Several athletes and coaches raised concerns about Cohen’s recent hormone therapy and the potential for a physical advantage over her cisgender competitors.

The complaints were lodged with the TYWA officials after the event, who in turn forwarded them to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation’s Office of the State Athletic Commissioner. The complaint cited Texas law, which requires that athletes be assigned to a division consistent with their biological sex at birth, and pointed to the state’s requirement that all participants in women’s categories must have undergone at least a year of testosterone suppression therapy.

Texas A&M’s Role

Texas A&M University, home to the TX‑A&M Weight‑lifting Program, was not directly involved in the competition. However, several athletes from the university’s program had participated, and the university’s Office of Institutional Equity has a mandate to oversee compliance with Texas Title IX and state athletic regulations. Given the high profile of the controversy and the potential legal ramifications, the Office is conducting a thorough review of the event.

The university’s investigation focuses on whether the TYWA and the meet organizers violated state law or Texas A&M’s own policies on gender‑based competition. Preliminary findings suggest that the event organizers may have overlooked or misinterpreted the Texas Athletic Commissioner’s guidelines, which explicitly prohibit trans athletes who have not undergone testosterone suppression from competing in women’s categories. The Office of Institutional Equity is also examining the role of the coaches who guided Cohen into the women’s division and whether they were properly informed of the legal requirements.

Policy Landscape and Legal Context

The story unfolds against a backdrop of a rapidly evolving legal and policy environment around transgender athletes in sports. In Texas, the “Transgender Participation in School Sports Act” (SB 1324) codified the state’s stance on gender‑based sports, stating that only athletes whose biological sex at birth aligns with the category they compete in may participate. The law also mandates that transgender athletes who wish to compete in a category inconsistent with their sex at birth must have been undergoing testosterone suppression therapy for a minimum of 12 months.

The Texas A&M investigation is being carried out in coordination with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which has issued a series of directives to local sports leagues to ensure compliance. The university’s legal counsel has underscored that non‑compliance could expose the institution to civil liability, including lawsuits alleging discriminatory or unfair competition practices.

In addition, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has its own set of guidelines that differ from state law. The NCAA, for instance, allows transgender athletes to compete in categories consistent with their gender identity, provided they meet hormone therapy requirements. While Texas A&M’s program competes at the NCAA Division I level, the incident involved a youth competition governed by state law, and thus the university’s compliance obligations differ from those of the NCAA.

Reactions from the Weight‑lifting Community

The controversy has sparked a wave of reactions across the weight‑lifting community:

• Trans‑athlete advocates argue that the current state law unfairly restricts the participation of transgender youth in sports. They point to scientific research indicating that testosterone suppression effectively reduces muscle mass and strength. One advocate, Lisa Miller, a former competitive weight‑lifter and spokesperson for the Trans‑Athlete Rights Coalition, emphasized that “athletic ability can be developed through training and nutrition regardless of gender identity.”

• Cisgender athletes and coaches have expressed concerns about fairness. A coach from the Houston Junior Weight‑lifting Club told Fox News that “when a trans athlete enters the women’s division without a year of suppression, it’s a competitive advantage that we’re not willing to accept.” The coach also highlighted the emotional toll the controversy has taken on his athletes, who now fear that their own achievements could be called into question.

• Sports law experts weigh in on the legal ramifications. Professor David Harris, a Texas law professor specializing in sports law, commented that “the Texas A&M investigation will be closely watched because it could set a precedent for how state law interacts with gender‑based sporting events.” Harris added that the university’s approach could influence policy decisions in other Texas schools and sports leagues.

• Weight‑lifting governing bodies have responded. The TYWA has issued a statement asserting that it “was unaware of the legal nuances surrounding transgender participation and will review its policies in light of this investigation.” Meanwhile, the USA Weightlifting organization has expressed its support for inclusive policies but reiterated its commitment to fairness.

Texas A&M’s Commitment and Next Steps

The university’s Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Jenna Lopez, released a statement emphasizing the institution’s commitment to an inclusive yet fair athletic environment. “Texas A&M takes its responsibilities under Texas law and Title IX seriously,” Lopez said. “We are working closely with the state athletic authorities to ensure that all of our athletes compete in a manner that is equitable and legally compliant.”

The investigation is set to run through March 15, 2025, with an interim report due to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation by February 28. If the Office of Institutional Equity finds that violations occurred, the university could face sanctions ranging from fines to mandatory policy reforms. The report will also recommend measures to improve the university’s oversight of external competitions, including a possible training program for coaches and athletes on legal and policy requirements related to transgender participation.

A Broader Debate in American Sports

The Texas A&M investigation reflects a larger national debate that has intensified in recent years. On one side, proponents of inclusive policies argue that transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in the category that aligns with their gender identity, citing principles of fairness, self‑determination, and the well‑established benefits of hormone suppression. On the other side, opponents contend that biological sex provides inherent advantages, especially in sports like weight‑lifting that rely heavily on muscle mass and strength, and that state laws like Texas’s must protect the integrity of women’s competitions.

The current investigation will likely become a reference point for other schools, state athletic associations, and national bodies as they navigate the intersection of law, sport, and identity. Whether the outcome will favor a stricter enforcement of Texas law or an adjustment of policies to accommodate trans athletes remains to be seen. Nonetheless, the incident underscores the urgency for clear, scientifically grounded, and legally robust frameworks that allow all athletes to compete fairly and safely.

In the coming months, Texas A&M’s Office of Institutional Equity will provide updates, and the results of the investigation will likely spark additional discussions on how to balance the rights of transgender athletes with the integrity of women's sports in Texas and beyond.