Hailey Davidson has said athletes complaining about the success of their transgender peers only have themselves to blame for falling short. The comments come in the wake of several highly publicised gender row arguments at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Scottish golfer Davidson - who was born male - has suggested disgruntled athletes are responsible for their own shortcomings against trans opponents. That's after she was banned from competing in NXXT golf competitions earlier this year due to her transition.
"I will never understand athletes who blame a transgender competitor on their own athletic failures," she wrote on Instagram.
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"If you don’t take accountability for your failures then you will never actually be good enough to make it."
Davidson hasn't competed as a male athlete since 2015 and underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2021. She has competed in and won NXXT tournaments in the past but was banned after the competition changed its inclusion policy in January, prohibiting players who were not born female.
The Scot is preparing to take part in Q School, which could qualify her to participate in LPGA events in future. Davidson was also named as the first alternate for the US Women's Open earlier this year, which drew scrutiny from some around the sport.
It was back in 2010 that the LPGA altered its inclusion policy regarding trans athletes. This removed the requirement for players to be assigned as female at birth and allowed those who have transitioned after male puberty to compete.
The current guidelines allow transitioned players to compete provided they can provide evidence of at least 12 months of hormonal therapy maintaining testosterone levels at a certain level. They must also write a declaration stating they identify as female, as well as providing proof of gender reassignment surgery.
In response to Davidson being appointed the primary alternate for the US Women's Open, one of her past opponents said the decision was "not fair." The player - who remained anonymous - lost to Davidson in a qualifier for the competition before airing their frustrations.
"I am not in agreement with the LPGA and USGA. [I am] more worried about the future of daughters everywhere," the anonymous golfer told Outkick. "Every woman on the tour is working so hard to be on the tour and play golf for [a] living. Women’s sports are not a backup option for mediocre male athletes.
"There's not any other way to explain it [other] than if you neuter a male dog, it's still a male dog. We never call them [a] female dog. I believe if transgender golf is getting more attention, aka popular, then let's do [a] trans open for them."
