Federal Title IX probe rocks Camas School District after trans runner controversy, superintendent pushes back

The US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has opened a Title IX investigation into Camas School District in Washington state, following complaints about a transgender runner competing on the girls’ cross-country team. The inquiry will examine whether the district breached federal rules; a violation can put federal funding at risk. Superintendent John Anzalone said he believes the district acted appropriately and does not expect investigators to find violations.

The article reports allegations that the runner entered a hotel room used by three female teammates and took part in an ice bath, and that he sexually harassed teammates; the district has said he stayed in a separate room with his mother. Anzalone described the ice-bath incident as overstated, saying administrators had not known about the team tradition and understood that a girl left when the runner entered. The runner switched from the boys’ team mid-season, later won a varsity meet and, according to the article, his participation prompted three protests by female athletes.