Donald Trump learned of ongoing issues surrounding gender identity and women’s volleyball in the Mountain West Conference, and on Wednesday during a town hall on FOX News Channel’s “Faulkner Focus,” he vowed to support all transgender women if elected. He declared that women would be banned from participating in sports.

Four universities canceled games against the Spartans following a controversy over the gender identity of one of the team’s players.

In response to a question about transgender athletes, President Trump referenced a play last week in which a San Jose State University volleyball player’s spiked ball hit a San Diego State University player in the arm, causing him to briefly collapse. The player managed to keep the ball in play with a dig and immediately stood up with a smile on his face.

Video of the play went viral on social media, along with claims that a San Diego State player was hit in the head while pointing out that the San Diego State player is transgender.

“I saw a slam, and it was a slam. I’ve never seen a ball hit that hard and hit a girl in the head,” Trump said. “But other people, even volleyball players, have been permanently, I mean, really badly injured. Women playing men. But we don’t have to play volleyball. We… We’ll stop it. We’ll stop it. It’s impossible.

“Just ban it. The president bans it. He just won’t allow it.”

San Diego State University issued a statement disputing President Trump’s characterization of the play, saying, “It was incorrectly reported that a San Diego State University student-athlete was hit in the face with a volleyball during a game against San Jose State University. ” The ball bounced off the shoulder of a student player, but the player was not injured and did not make any mistakes. We requested corrections from multiple media outlets. ”

San Diego State won in straight sets. The game was one of three conference games San Jose State has played since the transgender player’s identity was made public, and the Spartans lost all three.

Boise State, Southern Utah, Utah State and Wyoming have canceled games against San Jose State this season, but none of the schools has given a clear reason why.

The issue resurfaced on Oct. 26, when San Jose State and Nevada were scheduled to play, and while the school insisted on holding the game, the players voted to cancel the game. It will be. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin and Nevada Senate candidate Sam Brown cheer on players at the Nevada-Utah game in Reno on Tuesday. I watched the game to do it.

Politicians were attending a Trump campaign event in nearby Carson City, likely helping the issue garner national attention and Trump the next day.

“For us, it’s always been…equal opportunity, fair play on the court,” said Nevada team captain Thea Lilley. told the Reno Gazette Journal. “Women have fought so hard to get us this far by playing D1 volleyball and putting on matches like this. It’s only fair for people who are biologically male to participate. Not.”

Despite the university’s position being clear, Lehli said his team will not play San Jose State. She is one of several players who have hired attorney Joey Gilbert. has a history He has taken up right-wing causes, including representing a Nevada school district in an effort to bar transgender students from local athletic competitions.

“We know what our team is trying to do, and we’re going to maintain our integrity,” Rihli told the Gazette-Journal.

NCAA adopted new rules Transgender athletes should track their sport-specific testosterone levels at the beginning of the season and six months later. Testosterone levels must also be recorded four weeks prior to championship selection.

“We are steadfastly committed to supporting transgender student-athletes and promoting equity across college sports,” said NCAA Board of Governors and Georgetown President John DeGioia. “It is important that NCAA member schools, conferences, and college athletes compete in an inclusive, fair, safe and respectful environment and can move forward with a clear understanding of the new policy.”

Nevertheless, schools that canceled volleyball games have support from state politicians. Idaho Republican Governor Brad Little recently said: signed an executive order Prohibits Boise State and other public school sports teams in the state from playing teams with transgender athletes.

A federal judge has upheld a challenge by transgender students in Boise State, blocking Idaho from becoming the first state in the nation to enact a ban on transgender women from competing in public girls’ sports in 2020. Idaho. Atty. Gen. Raul Labrador told the U.S. Supreme Court, noting that Idaho is one of 25 states that have passed laws restricting transgender athletes from competing on teams that align with their gender identity. They requested that the ruling be reconsidered.

Wyoming’s forfeiture decision was supported by Governor Mark Gordon. social media posts: “I fully support @wyoathletics’ decision to cancel the volleyball game against San Jose State University. Upholding integrity and fairness in women’s athletics is important.”

Mountain West teams UNLV and New Mexico have announced scheduled games against San Jose State.

The issue became public when San Jose State co-captain brook slusser He joined a lawsuit against the NCAA brought by former All-American swimmer and anti-trans athlete activist Riley Gaines. The lawsuit alleges that the NCAA’s transgender eligibility rules violate Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Slusser argued in his lawsuit that the inclusion of transgender athletes on the women’s team provides an unfair advantage and poses a safety risk. Slusser also claims he was assigned to share a room with his teammates without letting them know he was transgender. This is the third season that a transgender player is on San Jose State’s roster.

Slusser appeared on Fox News and gave an interview to the conservative sports site Outkick, accusing the school of forcing him to live with a transgender teammate, who was then expelled from the team. requested to do so.

san jose state told the San Francisco Chronicle In recent seasons, there have been no reports of anyone seriously injured during volleyball games or practices. The school continues to support transgender athletes on the team.

“At San Jose State University, we condemn any targeted campaign against our students and continue to uphold the values ​​expressed in California State University’s Nondiscrimination Policy,” the school said in a statement. “All of our athletes comply with NCAA and Mountain West Conference policies and are eligible to play under the rules of those organizations.”

San Jose State coach Todd Kress recently spoke about the impact this issue has on his players. Kress said social media is full of exaggerations about transgender players’ physicality and strength on the ball, and the players have received hate mail.

“There were outside forces trying to divide our team, our university, our conference and our sport,” he said. “I know it’s taking a toll on the players who have worked so hard in the locker room over the years.

“Some [the hate mail]To be honest, I’m tired of it… I think the people who are sending these messages need to wake up at some point, look at themselves in the mirror, and seriously ask who they are as humans and what they are. The end game is. Is their ultimate goal to damage the mental health of 19 and 20 year old athletes?

“I believe that eventually we will be able to put aside the outside noise, play for each other, and find love for each other again.”