The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced on Monday its decision to prohibit transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, citing its commitment to ensuring fair and safe competition for all student-athletes and adherence to Title IX regulations.
In a statement, the NAIA emphasized the importance of providing separate and equal opportunities for female athletes. The organization outlined specific participation rules, delineating that only student-athletes whose biological sex is female are eligible to participate in NAIA-sponsored female sports.
According to the NAIA’s guidelines, students who have not undergone masculinizing hormone therapy are permitted to participate without limitation. However, those who have undergone such therapy are subject to certain restrictions. They may engage in internal activities within their institution, such as workouts and practices, at the discretion of the member institution. Additionally, participation in external competitions that are not considered countable contests by the NAIA is allowed, again subject to the discretion of the member institution.
The policy change was approved unanimously by the NAIA’s Council of Presidents, with a vote of 20-0. NAIA President Jim Carr explained the decision, stating, “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.”
It’s important to note that the NAIA operates independently from the NCAA and governs smaller schools and universities, with 241 membership schools under its purview.
