Sardar Pashaei, a former Iranian wrestler described as a 1998 World Youth Wrestling Championship winner, told Fox News Digital that he has witnessed female athletes in Iran receive lashings for appearing without a hijab.[1]
Pashaei drew a comparison to the United States, where he said female athletes face different forms of mistreatment for objecting to biological male transgender athletes competing in women's sports.[1]
"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 ... it should be an equal opportunity and also atmosphere that everybody can speak and also share any concern that they have."[1]
Pashaei, who competed internationally for Iran, called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to protect the women's category in sports based on scientific standards to ensure fair competition.[1]
"I think the International Olympic Committee should pay attention to this and also based on the scientific norm, try to create an equal field opportunity for everybody to compete," he said. "And everybody should compete in the sport in the field in the level that they are supposed to be in."[1]
A poll conducted by The Center Square Voters' Voice, with 2,659 registered voters including 952 Republicans, 934 Democrats and 773 independents, found 68% support for the U.S. Supreme Court upholding state bans on transgender women competing in women's sports. Support was 88% among Republicans and 49% among Democrats.[2]
Sources
- Fox News Digital
Article title: Iranian wrestling champion Sardar Pashaei rips US liberals for silencing female athletes who oppose trans athletes in women’s sports
Publication date: October 11, 2024
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/iranian-wrestling-champion-sardar-pashaei-rips-us-liberals-silencing-female-athletes-oppose-trans-sports - The Center Square
Article title: Poll: 68% of voters back Supreme Court upholding state bans on males in girls’, women’s sports
Publication date: October 7, 2024
https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_8c5b3d9e-83f6-11ef-8d75-8742e91f23fd.html
