NCAA: "Transgender Women Prohibited from Competing in Women's Sports"

Controversy Over Transgender Women's Participation in Women's Sports
Trump Says During Rally, "Men Will Prevent Women from Competing"

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which oversees intercollegiate sports in the United States, has decided to ban athletes who have transitioned to female from competing in women's sports.

On the 8th, The Washington Post (WP) reported that the NAIA board announced that starting August 1, only students who are biologically female and have not begun hormone therapy to transition to male can compete in intercollegiate women's sports. The NAIA has 241 member colleges in the U.S., most of which are private and relatively small in size. However, transgender rights advocacy groups are concerned that the much larger and more influential National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) might follow NAIA's decision.

Anna Beth, who is active in an organization supporting LGBTQ+ participation in sports, pointed out, "NAIA's decision could create the perception that the NCAA has the freedom to take similar measures," adding, "That perception is very wrong."

A female American swimmer who has undergone gender transition.
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

Historically, the NCAA has advocated for inclusivity. However, WP explained that it has not accepted demands such as "not hosting championship games in states that ban transgender athletes from participating."

In the U.S., the participation of transgender women in women's sports is a topic with clear ideological divides between conservatives and progressives. Conservative groups and politicians opposing transgender rights argue that even after transitioning, biological males retain physical advantages, which undermines the fundamental fairness of sports. Former President Donald Trump also stated that if re-elected, "I will not allow men to participate in women's sports." On the other hand, LGBTQ+ rights groups argue that there is no evidence that transgender athletes have a competitive advantage, and since physical conditions vary individually, their participation is not unfair.

The Associated Press reported that the number of transgender athletes in high schools and colleges is not tracked and is presumed to be small, but the issue remains highly sensitive. It also reported that at least 24 of the 50 U.S. states prohibit transgender women from competing in certain women's sports.

Meanwhile, conflicts over transgender women competing in women's sports are occurring across North America, including the U.S. and Canada. In February, controversy arose over the participation of a player presumed to be transgender in a high school girls' basketball game in Massachusetts. This player was notably taller than others by about a head and had a male skeletal structure. During a physical confrontation with this player, an opponent was pushed down onto the court, suffering a back injury that halted the game.

In the same month, five transgender players competed in a college volleyball match in Toronto, Canada. They dominated the game, and the team with one more transgender player won 3-2.