NBA legend Charles Barkley goes scorched earth on transgender athletics debate
Charles Barkley bluntly responded to the 'stupid' supporters of transgender athletes as the NBA legend voiced his concerns on the controversial debate, saying he won't change his mind.
'I'm gonna make this very simple for you, Dan. Men should not play sports against women,' Barkley said on Outkick's 'Don't @ Me' with Dan Dakich Thursday. 'I'm not gonna get into all the bulls–t that's going on out here in the world today.'
The 62-year-old Hall of Famer's views come as the sports world continues to debate the polarizing subject.
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4 Charles Barkley on set of 'Inside the NBA' during a presentation of the sho at City Hall Plaza on Oct. 22, 2024.
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'Men should not play sports against women. If anybody thinks that, I think they're stupid,' Barkley continued. '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.'
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February banning biological males from women's sports, putting pressure on schools to comply or face the loss of federal funds.
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A day later, the NCAA changed its gender eligibility policies banning all biological males from women's sports
Barkley said his stance wouldn't change regardless of the pressure he faced from the public.
'If anybody has a problem with that, they're gonna have to get over it because I'm not gonna change my [mind]. I just think it's wrong, period,' he added.
'I don't even think that's controversial… I don't wanna hear you try to explain it to me. No, no, no, I don't wanna hear it. I'm not gonna argue with you. Men shouldn't play sports against woman. I'm done,' he said.
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4 Blaire Fleming #3 of the San Jose State Spartans waits to serve during the first set against the Air Force Falcons at Falcon Court at East Gym on October 19, 2024 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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4 University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas on the starting block for the 200 Freestyle final at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 18, 2022.
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Barkley's comments came after Dakich asked the analyst about unfounded reports that sports brand giant Nike had funded a study on transgender children in sports.
The rumored research alleged the athletic wear giant donated money to help transgender physicist Joanna Harper study the effects of hormone therapy and puberty blockers on 'trans adolescents.'
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Reports of the study first emerged in a New York Times article highlighting San Jose State's Blaire Fleming, a trans female competing on the women's volleyball team.
The story briefly mentioned Harper's work and stated the research was being funded by Nike.
4 Barkley enters Auburn University's Neville Arena before a game against the Oklahoma Sooners on Feb. 4, 2025.
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Barkley said he was unaware of the reports but doubled down, saying children are too young to be exposed to the life-altering drugs.
'I don't even think anybody knows who they are as a young kid. So I think we have to be very careful because you don't want to put kids in a disadvantageous situation, because, hey, when you get older, you can make your own decision,' he said. 'I think we have to be very careful screwing around with kids because they're not fully developed as a person.'
The 11-time All-Star also brushed past the notion of a trend in transgender youth because parents don't listen to 'half the s–t our kids say.'
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