US Supreme Court allows states to ban transgender athletes from women's school sports

The US Supreme Court on Tuesday paved the way for states to restrict transgender student athletes, overturning lower court rulings that had blocked bans in Idaho and West Virginia. The justices ruled in favor of state laws that designate school sports teams based on "biological sex" and bar "students of the male sex" from participating on female teams.

The decisions by lower courts had sided with transgender students who challenged the bans as unconstitutional and a violation of federal anti-discrimination law. The Supreme Court's action allows Idaho and West Virginia to enforce their laws immediately.

In total, 27 states now have similar laws on the books, with the Supreme Court's decision potentially encouraging more states to adopt such restrictions. The ruling marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battles over transgender rights and gender equality in sports.