{"id":19061,"date":"2026-05-03T22:32:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-03T22:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=19061"},"modified":"2026-05-03T22:32:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-03T22:32:00","slug":"usa-powerlifting-settles-transgender-athletes-lawsuit-over-ban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=19061","title":{"rendered":"USA Powerlifting Settles Transgender Athlete\u2019s Lawsuit Over Ban"},"content":{"rendered":"


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JayCee Cooper \u2013 Photo: Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

USA Powerlifting has settled a lawsuit with JayCee Cooper, a transgender woman who sued<\/a> in 2021 after being barred from two women\u2019s competitions in 2018, following a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling last October that the organization discriminated against her.<\/p>\n

Cooper was undergoing hormone therapy in 2018 to lower her testosterone levels and sought a medical exemption, as the treatment is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency.<\/p>\n

Although USA Powerlifting did not have a policy on transgender competitors when Cooper applied, it soon issued a blanket ban prohibiting transgender women from competing in female-designated competitions and barring transgender men from competing if they were taking testosterone as part of their transition.<\/p>\n

In her lawsuit, Cooper argued that USA Powerlifting\u2019s rules violated Minnesota\u2019s nondiscrimination laws, which explicitly protect sexual orientation and gender identity. USA Powerlifting countered that she had an unfair advantage due to having undergone male puberty prior to transitioning.<\/p>\n

Cooper also cited International Olympic Committee rules \u2014 since revoked \u2014 that allowed transgender women to compete if their testosterone levels remained below a certain threshold for at least 12 months. The International Powerlifting Federation, USA Powerlifting\u2019s parent organization, had a similar rule but did not require individual affiliates to follow it. Cooper submitted documentation showing that her testosterone levels had remained below the IOC\u2019s threshold for two years.<\/p>\n

In 2023, Cooper won<\/a> at trial, with a state judge finding that USA Powerlifting\u2019s ban on transgender athletes in women\u2019s competitions violated her civil rights. The organization appealed, and the Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed the decision, ruling that USA Powerlifting had based its policy on Cooper\u2019s physiology rather than her gender identity.<\/p>\n

Cooper then appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court, which in 2025 ruled in her favor<\/a>, finding that USA Powerlifting\u2019s policy was discriminatory on its face. The court sent the case back to a lower court to determine whether USA Powerlifting had a legitimate business interest in its policy.<\/p>\n

USA Powerlifting ultimately chose to settle the lawsuit rather than continue with legal proceedings. The details of the settlement have not been made public but reportedly include a financial remedy, according to Twin Cities FOX affiliate KMSP-TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n

USA Powerlifting said its future in Minnesota remains unclear but that it will continue to operate in other states. Officials said they will review their options in the coming weeks. The organization\u2019s policy would likely be easier to enforce in states with laws prohibiting transgender participation in women\u2019s sports.<\/p>\n

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In a statement reeking of bitterness, USA Powerlifting\u2019s former president, Larry Maile, acknowledged the settlement but criticized Minnesota\u2019s nondiscrimination law for lacking a carve-out for athletics.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe state Supreme Court ruling has created legal dissonance for Minnesota sporting organizations, where complying with state law risks creating federal liability and vice versa,\u201d Maile said in the statement. \u201cWe would like to avoid becoming an agent of discrimination against the largest protected class in the country \u2014 women.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a separate statement, Maile said, \u201cWhat the plaintiffs cast as a victory for transgender rights is a ruling that has forced Minnesota to take a step backward for women, fair competition and common sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jess Braverman, legal director of Gender Justice, a Minnesota-based group that helped represent Cooper, hailed the settlement as a victory for transgender athletes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe celebrate this victory, but we also remain vigilant,\u201d she said. \u201cWe will continue to ensure that all Minnesotans, including transgender Minnesotans, can participate in sports, schools, employment, and health care without facing discrimination because of who they are.\u201d<\/p>\n