What does California’s policy change on trans athletes mean for track championships?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- CIF adopts new qualification and medal policy in the high, triple and long jump.
- Cisgender female now qualify if they lost a qualifying position to a transgender athlete.
- Details on shared podiums and medal ties remain unclear under revised policy.
The California Interscholastic Federation changed its policy amid threats from President Donald Trump to withhold federal funds if a transgender athlete is allowed to compete at its State Track and Field Championship, which starts Friday.
In a Truth Social post Monday, Trump demanded that a specific trans female athlete, who has been a target of right-wing harassment, be banned from competition. The athlete, AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley High in Riverside County, placed first in triple jump, eighth in high jump, and third in long jump at the Southern California regional championship earlier this month. Trump demanded in his post that Hernandez be banned from competing, but California law, AB 1266, lets athletes compete on any team that reflects their gender identity.
The Department of Justice announced Wednesday it opened an investigation into whether that law violates Title IX, a federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs. The investigation is based on the case, Save Girls’ Sports v. Thurmond. The plaintiffs in the case allege that California law takes opportunities from female athletes.
Here’s what we know about the change
The new policy will change the qualification and placement processes for certain events at the state championship meet in Clovis.
According to CIF’s new policy, cisgender female athletes will be able to compete in the state championship if they lost a qualifying position to a transgender athlete in the high jump, triple jump and/or long jump. During Friday’s qualifying competitions in those same events, if a cisgender female athlete loses a qualifying position to a transgender athlete, they will still advance to finals.
Medals will also be different in the high jump, triple jump and long jump events. Cisgender females who lose a certain placement on the podium to a transgender athlete will be awarded the medal for that place. CIF awards medals to the top nine athletes in the state meet.
What remains unclear
There are uncertainties about CIF’s changes, especially regarding new placement rules.
The policy does not explicitly outline what will happen if a cisgender athlete finishes directly behind a transgender athlete and if those athletes will share a medal place. It is also unclear how a tie between a transgender and cisgender athlete will be resolved.
In the case that multiple medals are awarded for the same place, the policy does not explain the impact on the athletes who medal behind them.
The Sacramento Bee reached out to CIF for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.
This story was originally published May 29, 2025 at 5:26 PM with the headline "What does California’s policy change on trans athletes mean for track championships?."
