The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has opened an investigation into the Puyallup School District in Washington following reports that a female wrestler was sexually assaulted by a male competitor during a women’s wrestling event. The investigation will examine whether the district violated Title IX regulations by allowing males to participate in female sports, granting access to girls’ locker rooms for male students, and not adequately responding to allegations of sexual assault.
The incident under scrutiny occurred in December 2025 when a 16-year-old female wrestler reported being assaulted during a match against a male student who was competing in the girls’ division. After the match, she learned her opponent was biologically male. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed it is conducting a criminal investigation into the matter. Media coverage indicates these issues are ongoing within the school district, with multiple complaints from female athletes regarding two males accessing the girls’ locker room.
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey stated: “The allegations in this case are sickening—that a female athlete was not only unknowingly forced to compete against a male in a girls-only division placing her at increased risk for sexual assault, but that her report of sexual assault during the match was ignored by Puyallup School District for months. While the District may prioritize ideological agendas over the safety and dignity of its students, the Trump Administration will not tolerate such conduct,” Richey said. “We will continue to vigorously enforce Title IX to ensure that women and girls have safe, equal access to educational programs and opportunities, and that allegations of sexual assault are addressed promptly and fully.”
Title IX is federal legislation that prohibits discrimination based on sex in any program or activity receiving federal funding.
