NAIA Announces Policy Allowing Only Athletes Assigned Female at Birth to Compete in Women’s Sports

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) made headlines on Monday with its decision to only allow athletes who were assigned female at birth to participate in women’s sports competitions. The organization, which governs sports at 249 small colleges across the United States, approved the policy in a unanimous 20-0 vote.

NAIA president Jim Carr explained the reasoning behind the decision, stating, “We believed our first responsibility was to create fairness and competition in the NAIA. We also think it aligns with the reasons Title IX was created. You’re allowed to have separate but equal opportunities for women to compete.”

The new rules also stipulate that trans men and boys can only play on women’s teams if they are not undergoing hormone therapy. If they are taking hormones, they will be allowed to participate in internal activities within the institution, such as workouts and practices, but not external competitions.

The NAIA’s decision contrasts with the policy adopted by the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), which allows each individual sport to determine its rules regarding the inclusion of transgender athletes. This has sparked a debate within the sports community, with NCAA coach Dawn Staley coming out in favor of trans athletes, stating, “If you’re a woman, you should play. If you consider yourself a woman and you want to play sports, you should be able to play.”

The NAIA’s decision reflects its commitment to protecting the integrity of women’s athletics and ensuring equal opportunities for all athletes. While the debate on transgender inclusion in sports continues, the NAIA’s stance sets a precedent for other athletic organizations to consider.