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A 17-year-old transgender boy completed an undefeated season by winning a controversial Texas state girls wrestling title.

High school athlete Mack Beggs, a teenager who is transitioning from female to male, won his 110-pound weight class in the Texas girl’s state championship on Saturday, according to media reports.

His family has said he would rather be wrestling boys, but state policy calls for students to wrestle against the gender listed on their birth certificates.

Ahead of the weekend tournament Beggs was favoured to win the 110-pound weight class in the championship with  52-0 record. On Saturday, he beat Chelsea Sanchez 12-2 to earn the championship.

Some of his opponents have said he has an unfair advantage among girls because of the testosterone he is taking as a part of his transition.

Parents of another girl who wrestles for the same Dallas-area high school had filed a lawsuit trying to block Beggs, saying his use of testosterone increases his strength, which could pose a risk to opponents.

The University Interscholastic League, which governs school sports in Texas, said that the state’s education code allows the use of a banned drug such as steroids if it “is prescribed by a medical practitioner for a valid medical purpose.”

Attorney Jim Baudhuin tried and failed to get injunctions before both the district and regional meets to prevent Beggs from competing while he transitions because he is taking testosterone. Baudhuin told The Associated Press earlier this week he doesn’t blame Beggs for the situation, but faults the UIL.

“The more I learn about this, the more I realize that she’s just trying to live her life and her family is, too,” Baudhuin said. “She’s being forced into that position. Who knows, through discovery we may find out that’s not the case. But every indication is, the way the winds are going now, the blame rests with the UIL and the superintendents.”

 

 

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