in 2017 alone, 285 boys under 18 years old outran that year's best women's time in the 400 meters.That's why legislation like South Dakota's Fairness in Women's Sports Act is so important.
However, Noem removed some of the bill's most important provisions. One gave teeth to protections for female athletes by providing legal recourse against schools when athletes face unfair policies—like that of the South Dakota High School Activities Association, which currently allows males to compete on female teams.
Noem's rationale? She didn't want to create "unnecessary litigation." But if girls don't have any recourse, they don't have an enforceable right.