The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the governing body for college sports in the United States, has announced a new policy limiting competition in women's sports to female-born athletes only. This decision aligns with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Wednesday, which denies federal funding to educational institutions that allow transgender girls and women to compete in women's sports.
The NCAA's announcement states that the organization believes "clear, consistent, and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today's student-athletes" rather than a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court decisions. President Charlie Baker emphasized that the new policy provides a "clear, national standard" in line with President Trump's executive order.
The NCAA's decision has been met with mixed reactions. Supporters of the policy argue that it protects the fairness and integrity of women's sports, while critics condemn it as discriminatory and harmful to transgender athletes. The policy has sparked debate about the inclusion of transgender athletes in sports and the role of government in regulating such participation.