INDIANAPOLIS —The NCAA Board of Governors on Monday issued a statement firmly and unequivocally in support of the opportunity for transgender student-athletes to compete in college sports, according to a statement on the organization's web site.
This commitment is grounded in our values of inclusion and fair competition, according to the statement.
The NCAA has a long-standing policy that provides a more inclusive path for transgender participation in college sports. Our approach — which requires testosterone suppression treatment for transgender women to compete in women’s sports — embraces the evolving science on this issue and is anchored in participation policies of both the International Olympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Inclusion and fairness can coexist for all student-athletes, including transgender athletes, at all levels of sport. Our clear expectation as the Association’s top governing body is that all student-athletes will be treated with dignity and respect. We are committed to ensuring that NCAA championships are open for all who earn the right to compete in them.
When determining where championships are held, NCAA policy directs that only locations where hosts can commit to providing an environment that is safe, healthy and free of discrimination should be selected.
We will continue to closely monitor these situations to determine whether NCAA championships can be conducted in ways that are welcoming and respectful of all participants
On Friday, Kansas conservatives pushed a proposed ban on transgender athletes in girl’s and women’s school sports through the Republican-controlled Legislature. Governor Kelly has not indicated whether she will sign the bill. The bill's supporters were eight votes short in the House and one short in the Senate of the two-thirds majorities for overriding a veto.