Nike Denies Funding Youth Transgender Athlete Study Amid Confusion

Portland, Oregon — Nike, a global leader in athletic wear, has found itself at the center of controversy surrounding a study on youth transgender athletes. The study, reportedly aimed at understanding the effects of gender-affirming care on athletes as young as 12, was mentioned by Dr. Kathryn Ackerman and researcher Joanna Harper, who stated that Nike was helping to fund it.

Initially, Nike did not respond to multiple inquiries about the study. However, a Nike executive later informed OutKick that the study “was never initialized” and “is not moving forward.” This vague statement left many questions unanswered regarding the circumstances surrounding the supposed funding.

OutKick attempted to clarify further by asking the Nike executive if Dr. Ackerman and Harper were incorrect in their claims. The executive replied that “no one was wrong” but suggested that there might have been “gaps in the information chain,” raising additional questions about what that means.

The New York Times also reported on Nike’s alleged funding of the study. Upon inquiry, a spokesperson for the Times stated, “We are confident in the accuracy of our reporting,” implying that the matter had some depth.

Efforts to contact Dr. Ackerman through her affiliations at Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and The Female Athlete Conference were unsuccessful. Sarah Sowers, Director of Research Partnerships at the Nike Sport Research Lab, was also approached but directed inquiries back to Nike media relations.

In a previous presentation, Ackerman had noted, “Recently, we got some money from Nike, who wanted to study this more… they wanted to look at transgender folks who are going through the transition younger.” This contrasts with Nike’s recent claims about the study.

As it stands, Nike maintains that the study will not occur, yet it does not clarify if funds were ever allocated or what led to the decision not to proceed. The lack of transparency raises significant questions about the company’s future commitments to research in this area.