Eliza Munshi, a senior at Falls Church High School, had initially joined the girls’ track and field team in early February.
A trans-identified male high school student in Virginia has moved from competing among the girls’ track and field team to the boys’ team after the state enacted new restrictions aligning with President Donald Trump’s executive order barring males from competing in girls’ sports.
Eliza Munshi, a senior at Falls Church High School, had initially joined the girls’ track and field team in early February, believing that the Virginia High School League (VHSL) would continue allowing trans-identified males to compete with the girls. However, the VHSL reversed course days later, citing the need to comply with President Trump’s executive order issued in February to protect women’s sports.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin also pressed the league to adopt the new policy, warning that failure to comply could jeopardize federal education funding.
"Biological boys should not be competing against girls. This is just common sense,” Youngkin posted on X in February. “The Virginia High School League must change course immediately just like the NCAA. Virginia schools are at risk of losing millions of dollars in federal school funding if the VHSL doesn’t comply with President [Trump’s] Executive Order protecting girls sports.”
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View on XAccording to a report by The Washington Post, Munshi was informed during the fourth practice about the new policy that determined trans-identified males “may not participate on a girls sports team other than cheerleading.” The updated VHSL rulebook now states that any school allowing an athlete who is “officially declared ineligible” to compete, shall be “automatically suspended from the League for a period of one calendar year.” Because of this, Munshi informed the school about the decision to switch from the girls' team to the boys'.
“[W]e really felt like if we’re to be the governing body of the Virginia High School League, our policies need to be in compliance with the executive order,” explained VHSL Executive Director Billy Haun, according to a report from Them.
Following the policy change, Munshi switched to the boys’ track and field team, competing in discus throw. The Washington Post noted that at a March meet, Munshi’s throw was the shortest in the boys’ competition that day.
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