The official athletics association for small colleges and universities in North America has just banned transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports events.
On Monday, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the ban on transgenders in women’s sports.
In a statement, the NAIA said it supports “fair and safe competition for all student-athletes.”
The organization notes that “Title IX ensures there are separate and equal opportunities for female athletes.”
The NAIA also laid out its updated participation rules with conditions.
Essentially, male athletes will be prohibited from competing as “women.”
Additionally, female athletes who are taking “masculinizing hormone therapy” drugs will also face limitations.
“Participation by students in sports designated as male by the NAIA: All eligible NAIA student-athletes may participate in NAIA-sponsored male sports,” the organization said.
“Participation by students in sports designated as female by the NAIA: Only NAIA student-athletes whose biological sex is female may participate in NAIA-sponsored female sports.”
The NAIA said any real female student who has not begun “any masculinizing hormone therapy may participate without limitation.”
The organization added that a female student who has begun “masculinizing hormone therapy” may only participate in:
“All activities that are internal to the institution (does not include external competition), including workouts, practices, and team activities.
“External competition that is not a countable contest as defined by the NAIA.”
“Such participation is at the discretion of the NAIA member institution where the student is enrolled,” the association notes.
The policy goes into effect on August 1.
According to CBS Sports, the NAIA’s Council of Presidents supported the policy change in a unanimous 20-0 vote.
In a statement, NAIA president Jim Carr told CBS Sports:
“We know there are a lot of different opinions out there.
“For us, we believed our first responsibility was to create fairness and competition in the NAIA.
“We also think it aligns with the reasons Title IX was created.
“You’re allowed to have separate but equal opportunities for women to compete.”
The NAIA is separated from the NCAA.
It governs small schools and universities.
There are 241 membership schools in the organization.
