Concerns raised as CIF track championships approach without clarity on transgender athlete policy

As the CIF State Track and Field Championships draw near, officials in Clovis say questions remain unresolved over how transgender athlete participation will be handled this year.

Clovis Mayor Pro Tem Diane Pearce said uncertainty surrounding championship policies has left athletes and families frustrated, particularly with the expected return of A.B. Hernandez, a transgender athlete who was at the center of debate last year.

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"They do not know what the governing policies are for the championships to tell us what the outcomes will be, if the top three girls will actually get the places and medals that they earn, or might they be cheated out of those spots by a boy," Pearce said.

Pearce told Action News that community members are growing increasingly concerned about the lack of clear guidance from the California Interscholastic Federation, or CIF, as the event approaches.

She said the uncertainty may be affecting how athletes prepare for competition.

"They don't understand why they're not being listened to, why they're not being heard. Why do these questions exist again this year?" Pearce said.

The issue drew protests from multiple sides during last year's championships, with some arguing that transgender athletes should compete based on their gender identity.

In response at the time, CIF introduced a one-time pilot program.

Under that system, biological female athletes would receive the placements and medals they earned, and any placements achieved by a biological male would be awarded in addition to, rather than replacing, the girls' standings.

With this year's championships just weeks away, Pearce said there has been no indication that the pilot program will return.

"We should be able to celebrate that and celebrate them instead, they're wondering whether or not they're going to get a fair shot at those places and medals they've worked so hard for," she said.

Pearce said she has again contacted the White House about the issue and is also urging members of the community to press CIF for answers.

When asked what a long-term solution would look like, Pearce said her position is firm.

"Ultimately, this will only be resolved if boys are out of our girls' divisions. We want to restore the integrity of the girls' divisions for our sports," she said.

Action News has reached out to CIF for comment but has not yet received a response.

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