The NCAA will limit competition in women’s sports to student-athletes assigned female at birth, it said Thursday, changing its policy regarding transgender athlete participation one day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at spurring that change.
The NCAA made its announcement shortly after the U.S. Department of Education said it would launch investigations into San Jose State University and the University of Pennsylvania — as well as the governing body for Massachusetts high school sports — over what it said were “apparent Title IX violations” related to transgender women playing women’s sports.
In his executive order Wednesday, Trump gave federal agencies the ability to deny funding to high schools and colleges that did not comply.
The NCAA Board of Governors voted on the policy change for transgender athletes Thursday. The policy leaves participation open for all athletes in men’s sports regardless of their sex assigned at birth or gender identity.
An athlete assigned female at birth but who has begun hormone therapy, such as taking testosterone, can practice with a women’s team but cannot compete in games. If they do participate in games, the team will become ineligible for NCAA championships.
The NCAA’s new policy is effective…
