President Donald Trump signed an executive order prohibiting transgender women and girls from competing in women's sports. Trump framed the policy as a way to …. The NCAA changed its participation policy for transgender athletes on Thursday, limiting competition in women's sports to athletes assigned female at birth only. The NCAA policy change is effective immediately and applies to all athletes regardless of previous eligibility reviews. The NCAA has some 1, member schools with more than , athletes, easily the largest governing body for college athletics in the U.
If there is no international federation policy, previously established IOC policy criteria would take over. Over the past year, however, transgender athletes have been targeted by critics who say their participation in women's sports is unfair and a potential safety risk. It became a major talking point in Trump's re-election campaign even though there is believed to be a very small number of transgender athletes; Baker last year said he knew of only 10 transgender athletes in the NCAA.
It it not uncommon, for example, for women's basketball teams to practice against fellow students who are male. Regardless of sex assigned at birth or gender identity, an athlete can practice and compete with a men's team assuming they meet all other NCAA eligibility requirements.
Member schools remain responsible for certifying athlete eligibility for practice and competition. President Donald Trump signs an executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing in women's or girls' sporting events, in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Feb. San Jose State's women's volleyball team drew headlines last season over unconfirmed allegations that the roster included a transgender player.
The NCAA said its Board of Governors had directed staff to help all member schools foster respectful and inclusive collegiate athletic cultures, noting it has recently updated its mental health guidance. The NCAA policy now mirrors that of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, which governs sports at mostly small colleges across the country. Last April, the NAIA unanimously approved a policy allowing only athletes whose sex assigned at birth is female and have not begun hormone therapy to compete.
