Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley grilled NCAA President Charlie Baker over his group, which overseas college athletics, allowing biological men to compete with women.

“I didn’t understand your answer to Sen. Kennedy’s question about the safety of women in sports. Did you say federal law requires the NCAA to permit biological men to play in women’s sports?” the senator said.

“No, I said there had been five cases in federal court in the past 18 months… where federal judges sided with participation,” the NCAA president responded.

“The relevant federal law is Title IX, isn’t it?” Hawley then said. “Title XI explicitly says, ‘No person shall, on the basis of sex, be denied the benefits of any educational activity or program receiving federal funds.’ You are in court at this moment arguing that Title XI doesn’t apply to the NCAA, which is astounding, given the amount of federal money the NCAA gets.”

“When that issue went to federal court, the judge sided with participation,” Baker said again. “A federal judge made the decision with respect to the issue you just raised.”

“Your rules have not been tried in federal court,” Hawley countered. “I am asking you why that is fair to the women. All of these women on these teams had to forfeit games, and thereby a chance to compete in the championship. Why is that protective of women?”

“This is your policy, which you will not defend because frankly, it is indefensible,” he added. “Why are you allowing biological men to participate in women’s sports?”

“Because we believe that is consistent with federal policy,” Baker replied. “I said in my opening comments to Sen. Kennedy, clarity on this issue at the federal level would be very helpful.”

“You have an impending lawsuit right now from female athletes who are suing you because you allow biological men not only in sports, but also in their locker rooms. Why do you do that, by the way?” the senator asked.

“What it says is, ‘Transgender student-athletes will be allowed to use the locker room, shower, and toilet in accordance with their gender identity. That means men will be able to use the women’s locker rooms and as Riley Gaines and others have testified before this committee, that means if a biological man wants to use their locker room, they just have to accept it! Or else they, the women, have to go somewhere else,” Hawley added.

“We’ve told the local folks who host our tournaments they need to provide accommodations for the people who are playing,” said Baker.

“So it’s the feds on one hand, the locals on the other hand. The only person who doesn’t have any responsibility in this is you — and you are the governing body,” said Hawley.

“Your testimony here is you aren’t even subject to Title IX. I can’t tell you how disappointing this makes me, and frankly infuriated,” he said.

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