Washington — The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has initiated a directed investigation into the Puyallup School District following reports that a female wrestler was sexually assaulted by a male competitor during a girls’ wrestling event.
According to federal officials, the investigation will examine whether the district violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 by permitting males to compete in female sports divisions, allowing access to girls’ locker rooms, and failing to adequately respond to allegations of sexual assault.
The probe stems from a December 2025 incident in which a 16-year-old female wrestler reported being assaulted during a match against a male student competing in the girls’ division. After the match, the athlete reportedly learned her opponent was biologically male…