In a bold call for justice and equity, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, joined by 25 other state attorneys general, has urged the NCAA to correct what they describe as a grievous wrong—the erasure of female athletes’ accomplishments through the inclusion of biological males in women’s sports. The appeal, issued in a joint letter, calls upon the NCAA to restore awards, records, and titles to female competitors who were deprived of fair recognition due to past policies.

This is more than a sports dispute—it is a spiritual and moral issue. It touches the created order of God, the meaning of justice, and the purpose of human flourishing. Scripture tells us that “God is not the author of confusion” (1 Corinthians 14:33), and yet confusion reigns in the cultural dismantling of the distinctions He has wisely ordained.

The Issue at Hand

At the heart of the attorneys general’s concern is the participation of male athletes—those born biologically male—in female divisions of NCAA competition. Their inclusion in women’s sports, they argue, unfairly undermined the integrity of female competition and denied biological women the fruits of their labors.

One high-profile case often cited is that of University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, who tied for fifth place with Lia Thomas, a biological male who identifies as female. Gaines, like many others, trained for years with a singular focus, only to see her accomplishments effectively rewritten in the name of inclusivity.

Attorney General Coleman made it clear that this is not a matter of hostility or exclusion. “This is not about being divisive. This is about common sense and protecting fairness,” he said.

The call includes a request that the NCAA extend its new policy—restricting female competition to athletes born biologically female—to also govern shared spaces such as locker rooms and practice settings, recognizing that fairness is not only about competition, but about dignity.

God’s Design and Human Flourishing

From the opening chapters of Genesis, Scripture affirms the binary design of humanity: “male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:27). This distinction is not arbitrary—it is foundational to how God has ordered creation. Attempts to erase or redefine that distinction undermine His good purposes.

While the broader culture may seek to blur the lines, believers must hold fast to God’s Word, which never changes (Isaiah 40:8). The idea that males can compete in female categories is not merely unfair from a human perspective—it’s an affront to the creational norms God has built into the world.

Christians must also remember the doctrine of lex talionis—the law of just retribution—not as a license for vengeance, but as a call for proportional justice. “A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight” (Proverbs 11:1). When records are altered or awards are unjustly reassigned, it reflects a false balance that God Himself condemns.

Restoring What Was Lost

The request from these attorneys general is not revolutionary—it is restorative. It calls for the recognition of what female athletes rightfully earned and what was unjustly taken from them. This mirrors the biblical pattern of restitution. In Exodus 22:1, the Lord commands, “If a man shall steal… he shall restore.” Though no one physically stole a medal, the principle applies: honor and recognition owed to one should not be redirected to another under a pretense of fairness that ignores God’s order.

This moment also raises a broader theological reflection: what does it mean to bear witness to truth in a culture committed to lies? Romans 1 reminds us that when people reject the truth of God, He gives them over to “a reprobate mind” (Romans 1:28), and they exchange the truth of God for a lie (Romans 1:25). We are watching the consequences of such exchanges play out in real time.

A Call for Courage and Clarity

This case is emblematic of a larger cultural drift—away from truth, away from justice, and away from the God who defines both. Christians should pray for courage among civil authorities who seek to protect the vulnerable and uphold righteousness. “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God” (2 Samuel 23:3).

While the NCAA has not yet responded, this letter presents a moment of moral reckoning. Will the organization pursue justice and truth? Or will it continue to elevate cultural trends over biological reality and objective fairness?

Whatever the outcome, the church must continue to declare that God’s design is good, that truth is not malleable, and that righteousness must prevail in every sphere of life—even sports.

Let the people of God stand firm, for as the Psalmist writes, “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face” (Psalm 89:14). When we pursue justice in alignment with God’s design, we reflect His character to a watching world.

Calvary Herald is committed to reporting on national developments through a biblical worldview grounded in historic, Reformed theology.