ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith weighed in on the ongoing debate surrounding transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports, stating there is “no excuse” for biological men competing against biological females, as reported by Fox News.

Smith made the comments during an appearance on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” where the topic of transgender participation in sports was discussed alongside recent Olympic policy changes.

Under a new eligibility framework from the International Olympic Committee, transgender women are excluded from women’s events.

New York, NY, United States – August 16, 2024: ESPN host, Stephen A. Smith, attends Fanatics Fest 2024, located in Jacob Javits Center.

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“Biological men should not be competing against biological girls in sports, period,” Smith said during the discussion.

“What about protecting the young ladies? Young ladies going up against biological men — biological men — there is no excuse for that.”

Smith also referenced former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas while discussing performance differences between male and female athletes.

“Lia Thomas, for example, was a male, and he was ranked over 400th in the world. … And then he became a she. … And No. 1. Well … does it really take an Einstein to realize that there’s something wrong with that picture?” Smith said.

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The issue of transgender athletes has been a point of debate in both sports and public policy, with governing bodies and lawmakers addressing how eligibility standards should be determined.

Smith has previously addressed the topic, including during a February 2025 Radio Row interview ahead of the Super Bowl.

In that appearance, he stated that while he supports LGBTQ rights, he views participation in women’s sports as a separate matter.

“So, that’s how I look at it. LGBTQ rights and all that stuff, I’m in full support of that, but when transgender athletes — men — are transitioning to women and they’re competing in female sports, that’s a different animal to me,” Smith said.

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“That’s not just about LGBTQ rights. That’s about preying on the rights of females out there everywhere who were born female, and they’re at a decided disadvantage.”

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The discussion has taken place alongside recent federal actions.

In 2025, President Donald Trump signed the “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order, directing federal agencies to interpret Title IX based on biological sex at birth.

Following that directive, the NCAA updated its policies to align with the order.

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Smith’s remarks come as athletic organizations, policymakers, and public figures continue to debate how to balance inclusion with competitive fairness in women’s sports.

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