Staff Reports
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics has laid down the law and put some order in the world of sports. The NAIA is saying “no way, Jose” to transgender-identifying men competing in female sports. They’ve made it clear as crystal that only biological females can step up to the plate when it comes to female sports. The NAIA is drawing a line in the sand and taking a stand for good old-fashioned fairness.
College association votes to require athletes to compete according to biological sex https://t.co/phHk9Ic4eE https://t.co/phHk9Ic4eE
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) April 9, 2024
Jim Carr, the big kahuna over at the NAIA, is all about fair competition for student-athletes. He’s making it known that NAIA member institutions and their athletes deserve to compete on a level playing field. With input from member institutions and the Transgender Task Force, the NAIA’s Council of Presidents has locked in their decision to keep things fair and square.
As of August 1, NAIA schools gotta toe the line and abide by the “transgender participation policy.” This means only biological females can be in the running for female sports – no ifs, ands, or buts about it. But hold your horses, because the NAIA isn’t leaving anyone out in the cold. All students are still welcome to compete in men’s sports. They’re just making sure that the biological makeup of the athletes lines up with the sport they’re pursuing.
The NAIA has also slammed the door shut on allowing female students in the process of transitioning to compete in female sports. Any ladies who have started a medical transition process are being placed on the sidelines for female sports. The NAIA is saying “not so fast” to things like “masculinizing hormone therapy” when it comes to competing in women’s sports.
Now, the NAIA is waving the Title IX banner, saying their policy is right in line with the true intent of the civil rights statute. They’re making it crystal clear that they won’t stand for anything but separate and equal opportunities for female athletes. And they’ve got a point – it’s only fair that girls get their fair shake on the field.
It’s no secret that conservatives have been throwing shade at the fairness of allowing biological males to compete against women in sports. They’ve been raising an eyebrow at the University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, a biological male who identifies as a transgender woman, taking home the NCAA Division I championship. Now, the NAIA is throwing down the gauntlet and standing up for fairness in sports. And it looks like the much-larger National Collegiate Athletic Association might be next in line to weigh in. Stay tuned, folks!
