(LifeSiteNews) — Jaycee Cooper, the trans-identifying male powerlifter, has won a settlement – the amount undisclosed – from USA Powerlifting. Cooper sued USA Powerlifting (USAPL) over their ban on trans-identifying males in the women’s division. In October 2025, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that USAPL’s policy was discriminatory under the state’s Human Rights Act.

The Minnesota Supreme Court did remand the case to permit USAPL the option of claiming a “legitimate business purpose” defense for their policy with relation to fairness in competition, but the organization opted to simply settle the years-long legal battle with Cooper.

“Five of the court’s seven justices were appointed by far-left Democratic Governor Tim Walz, while the remaining two were appointed by former Democratic Governor Mark Dayton,” LifeSiteNews reported in October. “The court concluded that USA Powerlifting’s decision to ban Cooper from two events in 2018 for his ‘strength advantages’ was not compelling.”

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The legal battle began after Cooper applied to compete in two women’s powerlifting competitions in 2018, while also seeking a “therapeutic use exemption” for the medication he was taking for his transgender treatments. He was rejected on the basis of USAPL’s ban on men – even those who identified as female – although they stated that their policy was based on “strength status” rather than transgender status specifically.

In 2021, Cooper sued both USAPL and its Minnesota affiliate in Ramsey County District Court, claiming discrimination based on “sex and sexual orientation,” since gender identity is conflated with sex in the Minnesota Human Rights Act. In 2023, the district court issued a ruling that largely favored Cooper’s claims, including affirming that he had been discriminated against. The Minnesota Supreme Court unanimously affirmed that ruling in October 2025.

That month, Cooper went viral for a video in which he mocked women who objected to competing against him:

As the court case was underway, Joel “Jaycee” Cooper made a video mocking women who complained about him participating in their powerlifting events.

He’s not only cheating, he’s bragging about it. https://t.co/nhCK8SjJUE pic.twitter.com/UzaDzA8vau

— Genevieve Gluck (@WomenReadWomen) October 25, 2025

Jess Braverman, legal director at the transgender activist organization Gender Justice which represented Cooper, issued a triumphant statement. “We celebrate this victory, but we also remain vigilant and ready to take action to ensure that all Minnesotans, including transgender Minnesotans, can participate in sports, schools, employment, and healthcare without facing discrimination because of who they are,” Braverman said.

“What the plaintiffs cast as a victory for transgender rights is a ruling that has forced Minnesota to take a step backward for women, fair competition and common sense,” countered former USA Powerlifting president and national women’s powerlifting coach Larry Maile. “We continue to believe strongly in the merits of our case, which are supported by global competition standards and bipartisan public sentiment. But left with few legal options, settlement is in the best interests of the organization.”

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As USAPL told OutKick previously: “Our policy is based on the indisputable fact that men are generally stronger than women.” OutKick added: “That argument is backed by research cited in the case showing biological males retain a significant strength advantage – even after testosterone suppression – a key point USAPL says is critical in a sport defined by who can lift the most weight.”

USA Powerlifting has not yet decided what it will do about the business discrimination claim sent back to the lower court to demonstrate that the policy restricting the women’s division to women is “reasonably necessary for its business mission and not based on stereotypes,” and said that “organization leadership will review the matter in the coming weeks.”