Idaho and West Virginia asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to uphold their laws protecting women’s sports against challenges from transgender athletes.

Alongside lawyers from Alliance Defending Freedom, the states filed two petitions with the justices asking them to weigh the matter during the court’s next term, which begins in October.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled against West Virginia’s law that would require biological boys to compete on boys or co-ed teams. A transgender female student challenged the law and the 4th Circuit sided with the transgender student.

Meanwhile, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an injunction, halting Idaho from enforcing its Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which bases sports participation on biological sex.

Similar to the West Virginia law, a transgender female student wishing to run track at Boise State University challenged the law as running afoul of the 14th Amendment.

About two dozen states have such legislation aiming to protect women’s sports, according to Idaho’s court filing.

“Women and girls have overcome decades of discrimination to achieve a more equal playing field in many arenas of American life—including sports. Yet in some competitions, female athletes have become bystanders in their own sports as male athletes who identify as female have taken the place of their female competitors—on the field and on the winners’ podium,” wrote Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador in his filing.

It would take four justices to vote in favor of their requests.

• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.