In a move that is likely to stir debate, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has delivered an opinion asserting that undergoing a "gender transition" does not satisfy the "valid medical purpose" clause for steroid usage in high school sports. According to an official press release from his office, Paxton urged the University Interscholastic League (UIL) to disallow student-athletes from using testosterone or other steroids if the intent is for gender reassignment purposes.

The opinion was issued following a request from Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath and delineates that students are prohibited from taking performance-enhancing drugs unless there's a recognized medical reason under state law – gender transition, in Paxton's interpretation, did not meet this threshold. This stance could lead to the UIL investigating students' eligibility more rigorously if suspicions arise about steroid use for gender transitioning, with the burden of proof lying on the student-athletes to verify their compliance before participating in UIL competitions. "Texas law is designed to protect student-athletes from competing against people taking performance-enhancing drugs under radical ‘gender transition’ theories," Paxton explained, as per the press release.

This position aligns with Paxton's continued stance on the debate over gender identity in sports. He elaborated, "In America, we recognize that there are only two unchangeable genders—male and female." The Attorney General calls on schools throughout Texas to respect these guidelines to maintain what he deems as "safe and fair competitions" for all students.