Fact Check: "Only about 40 out of 500,000 NCAA athletes are known to be transgender."
What We Know
The claim that "only about 40 out of 500,000 NCAA athletes are known to be transgender" is supported by multiple sources. According to Anna Baeth, director of research at Athlete Ally, fewer than 40 of the NCAA's more than 500,000 athletes are known to be transgender (CNN). This figure aligns with statements made by NCAA President Charlie Baker, who indicated that he is aware of fewer than 10 transgender athletes competing in NCAA sports (NBC News, The Hill).
Additionally, a commentary in The Ithacan noted that approximately 0.00008% of all NCAA athletes are transgender, which corroborates the estimate of around 40 transgender athletes among the total (The Ithacan).
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim comes from credible sources within the sports community, including advocacy organizations and official statements from NCAA leadership. The estimate of fewer than 40 transgender athletes is consistently reported across various outlets, suggesting a consensus on the figure.
While NCAA President Charlie Baker's estimate of fewer than 10 transgender athletes may seem lower than Baeth's figure, it is important to note that Baker's statement could reflect a more conservative estimate based on his awareness rather than a comprehensive survey of all NCAA athletes (The Hill).
The sources cited are reputable, including CNN, NBC News, and advocacy organizations like Athlete Ally, which are known for their focus on LGBTQ issues in sports. However, the lack of comprehensive data on transgender athletes in NCAA sports raises questions about the accuracy of these estimates. The NCAA itself has not released detailed statistics on the number of transgender athletes, which could lead to discrepancies in reported figures.
Despite these potential limitations, the consensus among the sources indicates that the number of transgender athletes in NCAA sports is indeed very low, supporting the claim that approximately 40 out of 500,000 athletes are known to be transgender.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that "only about 40 out of 500,000 NCAA athletes are known to be transgender" is substantiated by multiple credible sources. While there may be some variance in estimates, the overall consensus supports the assertion that the number of transgender athletes in NCAA sports is minimal.
Sources
- Trans Women in Sports: Facts Over Fear | SF.gov
- A college athletics association banned transgender women ... | CNN
- Education Dept. urges NCAA to reverse transgender athletes' records | NBC News
- What science tells us about transgender athletes | PBS
- The NCAA's dilemma on trans athletes shouldn't be that ... | Los Angeles Times
- There Are Many Obstacles Facing Women's Sports. Trans ... | The Crimson
- NCAA president says there are 'less than 10' transgender ... | The Hill
- Commentary: NCAA Board of governors must protect ... | The Ithacan
