NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley has taken a firm stance against the inclusion of biological males in women’s sports, labeling supporters of such policies as “stupid.” In a recent interview on OutKick’s “Don’t @ Me” with Dan Dakich, Barkley emphasized his opposition to men competing against women in sports, stating, “Men should not play sports against women.”
Barkley, 62, expressed his support for the gay and transgender communities but drew a clear line when it comes to athletic competition. He remarked, “I support the gay community 100%. I support the transgender community 100%. But I do not, under any circumstances, think that men should play sports against women.”
The former NBA star’s comments come amid ongoing debates over transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports. Barkley criticized the use of hormone therapy and puberty blockers for transgender children, asserting that minors are too young to make such life-altering decisions. He stated, “I think we have to be very careful screwing around with kids because they’re not fully developed…”.
Barkley’s remarks align with recent legislative actions, including an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in February, which bans biological males from participating in women’s sports. The NCAA followed suit by altering its gender eligibility policies to exclude biological males from women’s competitions.
Despite potential backlash, Barkley remains steadfast in his views.
