A legal loophole for high school steriod use

Editor’s note: This is not endorsement of steroids use of any kind. It simply illustrates a legal loophole challenging the legitimacy of Texas high school athletics.

It’s not often I see wrestling stories so, as former mat-rat, I could not resist reading about Mack Beggs, a 110-pound, Dallas-area high school wrestler, who recently advanced to the girls 6A wrestling regional. There is a catch to Beggs’ advancement, however, because he/she was competing while taking steroids as part of her transition from female to male.

As a person, I’m ambivalent. It’s her body and she can do whatever she wants with it. As a former wrestler, I am absolutely enraged. Don’t get me wrong, wrestling is a sport that teaches discipline and problem solving, but sometimes problem solving means seeking every advantage possible. I’ve personally slept in garbage bags and solar suits to cut weight. I’ve  had teammates brag about bathing in mineral oil to be nice and lubricated for their match or sharpening their fingernails if they notice the ref isn’t checking. If you give any wrestler an athletic advantage, he, she or those in transition will take it.

Where some see controversy, I see opportunity. What if every female Olney High School athlete decided to transition into being male or at least say there were? Sure dosing developing teens with hormones could permanently damage them, but think of the state championships.