The NCAA board of governors voted to adopt a policy that allows males to play women’s sports despite physical advantages in competition.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) board of governors voted on Wednesday to adopt a policy that allows and even encourages males to participate in women’s sports despite the physical advantage they have in competition. Under the new rules, male athletes who claim to be female will be allowed to play in women’s sports based on the guidelines and determination of each sport’s governing body. Those sports that do not answer to a higher body will automatically be required to follow the International Olympic Committee’s lax rules, which use subjective judgment to determine participation. “We are steadfast in our support of transgender student-athletes and the fostering of fairness across college sports,” Georgetown President John DeGioia said in a release. “It is important that NCAA member schools, conferences and college athletes compete in an inclusive, fair, safe and respectful environment and can move forward with a clear understanding of the new policy.
