Sardar Pashaei, an Iranian freestyle wrestler who won gold in the 54kg category at the 1998 World Junior Wrestling Championships in Minsk, Belarus,[1][2] has criticized what he describes as institutional efforts to silence female athletes in the United States who oppose transgender athletes competing in women's categories.
Pashaei told Fox News Digital that he personally witnessed female athletes in Iran receiving lashings for appearing in public without a hijab.[3]
He compared the situation to alleged retaliation against American female athletes advocating for the protection of women's sports from biological male transgender competitors, stating it is unacceptable to silence athletes raising fairness concerns.[3]
"For me, it's not really acceptable if I hear that people will be silenced when they think that something is unfair to them," Pashaei said. "I'm against silencing athletes. If they have a concern, if they think that something is not fair for them, because as an athlete, you know, you have to have a lot of discipline, spend a lot of energy to get to that level."[3]
Pashaei, who also urged the International Olympic Committee to ensure equal competition opportunities based on scientific norms, emphasized the need for a fair playing field in all categories.[3]
A September 2024 poll by the Center Square Voters' Voice, surveying 2,659 registered voters including 952 Republicans, 934 Democrats and 773 independents, found 68% support upholding state bans on transgender athletes in women's sports. Support was 88% among Republicans and 49% among Democrats.[4][5]
Sources
- United World Wrestling. "World Championships Juniors 1998 - Freestyle." Accessed October 2024. https://uww.org/event/world-championships-juniors-1998-freestyle
- International Wrestling Database. "Sardar Pashaei - Athlete Profile." Accessed October 2024. https://www.iat.uni-leipzig.de/datenbanken/ikdb/Details.php?id=1100001
- Fox News Digital. "Former Iranian wrestling champ who saw female athletes lashed for no hijab now sees mistreatment in US." October 11, 2024. https://www.foxnews.com/sports/former-iranian-wrestling-champ-saw-female-athletes-lashed-no-hijab-now-sees-mistreatment-us
- The Center Square. "Poll: 68% of voters support upholding state bans on trans athletes in women’s sports." September 25, 2024. https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_7b0e3b3a-7b0f-11ef-8d8d-8742e91f23bc.html
- Fox News Digital. "Poll: 68% of voters support upholding state bans on trans athletes in women’s sports." September 26, 2024. https://www.foxnews.com/sports/poll-68-voters-support-upholding-state-bans-trans-athletes-womens-sports
