Summarised by Centrist
In the US, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has introduced a policy that essentially prohibits transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports.
Starting in August, the new policy stipulates that athletes born female and not undergoing hormone therapy can compete in women’s sports. Those undergoing hormone therapy can only engage in non-competitive activities within sports programs like team workouts and practices, but not intercollegiate competition.
While NAIA’s competitive cheer and dance programs remain open to all students, the policy reflects the organisation’s focus on maintaining fair competition across sports requiring strength, speed, and stamina. These are traits often seen as areas where male student-athletes have advantages.
This decision, passed unanimously by the NAIA Council of Presidents in a 20-0 vote at its annual convention, affects 241 US colleges and 83,000 athletes across 25 sports.
