Demonstrators gather outside the Montana State Capitol in March to protest two bills that would target transgender youth. (Photo by= Thom Bridge/AP) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] The NCAA announced that it "firmly and unequivocally supports" transgender athletes having the opportunity to participate in college sports as a growing number of states have moved to block them from competing, CNN said.
"Inclusion and fairness can coexist for all student-athletes, including transgender athletes, at all levels of sport," the NCAA's Board of Governors said Monday in a statement. The board, which is the NCAA's highest governing body, says it has a long-standing policy in place "that provides a more inclusive path for transgender participation in college sports.""Our approach -- which requires testosterone suppression treatment for transgender women to compete in women's sports -- embraces the evolving science on this issue and is anchored in participation policies of both the International Olympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee," the statement said.
The board discussed the issue last week at its April meeting, as dozens of states are considering measures that would prevent transgender women and girls from participating in women's sports and other anti-trans legislation. South Dakota, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee have enacted sports bans this year, and Arkansas passed a law that prohibits doctors from administering gender-affirming treatments to trans patients under 18-years-old. The National Center for Transgender Equality welcomed the NCAA's statement.