Washington State has been rocked in recent weeks by a controversy involving a men’s cross country runner who switched from a men’s team to a women’s team mid-season. The controversy culminated in a protest Tuesday, when a dozen Camas High School runners walked off the course, refusing to compete with their new male teammate.
The association governing Washington school sports says state law prevents it from implementing proposed changes to its participation policy.
In a statement to OutKick, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) said it could not adopt a new policy aimed at preventing men from participating in women’s sports, even if its members voted for a policy change, because it would be “in violation of Washington state law.”
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“Over the past two years, through the association’s amendment process, three amendments have been proposed to change gender identity participation policies. These amendments did not meet the 60% threshold for adoption. However, even if the amendments had met the threshold and passed, the WIAA cannot implement a policy that violates Washington state law and the proposed amendments would have violated state law. state changes, the WIAA Board of Directors will revise policies as necessary to remain in compliance with state law,” is part of the association. Read the WIAA statement.
Washington voters are expected to decide whether to change the rules next month.
Initiative 638, which would prohibit biological male students from participating in certain female-only school sports and require verification of biological sex by a health care provider, will go to the state ballot on Nov. 3.
Democrats currently hold a majority in both houses of the state Legislature and control the governor’s office. Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson has expressed opposition to Initiative 638.
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“Washingtonians should know that I-638 will not create opportunities for girls, but will require them to take invasive gender verification exams in order to participate in sports,” Ferguson said in a statement released Sept. 29 by the opposition campaign No Hate in WA State.
The measure passed after lawmakers took no action on it during the 2026 session. Earlier this year, Democratic legislative leaders said they would leave the decision to voters.
The vote will come as the state grapples with multiple controversies involving men in women’s sports, including cross-country runner Camas and a separate incident involving a transgender wrestler who allegedly sexually assaulted a female athlete during a match last December, according to the female athlete’s lawsuit. Prosecutors declined to file criminal charges in the case.
In its statement to OutKick, the WIAA described itself as a member-driven association whose members create its rules. It said its gender identity participation policy has been in place since the 2007-08 school year and was adopted to align with Washington law.
“The WIAA is a member-driven association. Members create the rules found in the WIAA Handbook. The gender identity participation policies found in the WIAA Handbook at Rule 18.16.0 have been in place for 20 years, since the 2007-08 school year. The rules were adopted to align with Washington State law. The WIAA remains committed to upholding Washington State law… which allows student-athletes to participate in sports corresponding to the gender with which they identify,” the release said.
“WIAA Handbook 18.16.0 states that school personnel will work collaboratively with the student to determine eligibility. However, no timetable for changing teams is indicated. WIAA Handbook 17.11 establishes practice regulations, outlining the minimum number of practice requirements. WIAA Handbook 18.2.1 demonstrates that students must be deemed eligible by the 50% mark of the applicable sport in order to be eligible for participate in the elimination competitions.
“The WIAA Handbook provides the framework for WIAA schools, leagues and districts to host events throughout the year. The WIAA office does not manage the day-to-day WIAA league and district events and is instead responsible for organizing WIAA state tournaments. For example, the WIAA office establishes signage policies for WIAA state events, but not WIAA league or district competitions. WIAA Once again, WIAA is a member-driven association.”
After the U.S. Supreme Court upheld other states’ laws restricting transgender athletes’ participation in girls’ and women’s sports in landmark rulings in June, Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) said the rulings did not change Washington law. The agency said Superintendent Chris Reykdal would continue to enforce state law allowing students to compete based on their gender identity.
“Today’s decision strengthens Washington State’s ability to pass and implement our own laws consistent with our values,” Reykdal said in a June 30 statement.
The distinction is important for families seeking a different policy: A ruling allowing states to restrict participation does not itself enact such a restriction in Washington.
Initiative 638 would require school districts and covered athletic associations to prohibit students they define as biologically male from competing with or against female students in certain competitions intended only for female students. This would apply to individual and team events.
Students participating in these competitions would be required to provide a signed statement from a personal physician verifying biological sex through reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup, or naturally produced testosterone levels.
Supporters of the plan, led by Let’s Go Washington, say the measure would preserve fair competition and opportunity for girls. They argue that transgender students would retain the opportunity to participate in sports in categories corresponding to their gender.
A Camas High cross country runner, who switched from the boys’ team to the girls’ team mid-season, stands at the starting line of a girls’ race at the Nike Hole in the Wall XC Invitational. (Kick)
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Opponents say the measure would exclude transgender girls and create new medical and privacy constraints for girls wanting to play sports at school.
Supporters dispute Ferguson’s characterization of the verification requirement. Let’s Go Washington says the measure does not require genital exams and that verification could take place through the existing sports and physical process.
The political decision to leave the initiative to voters was clear months before the Camas protest.
In January, Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen and House Speaker Laurie Jinkins said they did not plan to hold hearings on the sports initiative or a separate parental rights measure, according to the Washington State Standard.
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“I’m sure we won’t adopt any of these initiatives,” Pedersen said, according to the Washington State Standard. “It will be up to the voters to decide.”
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