NAIA Bans Transgender Women From Women's Sports

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced on Monday that it is banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports at NAIA colleges.

For Context: The NAIA is made up of 241 schools, most of which are small and private. The NAIA is smaller than the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which is made up of over 1,000 schools. This decision from the NAIA comes as the NCAA faces a lawsuit from a group of athletes pushing for a similar ban.

Key Quotes: The statement from the NAIA stated that “Only NAIA student-athletes whose biological sex* is female may participate in NAIA-sponsored female sports” and adds, “An NAIA institution that has a student-athlete who has begun masculinizing hormone therapy must notify the NAIA national office. The national office will take the necessary steps to provide appropriate privacy protections.” NAIA President Jim Carr stated in a press release, “We are unwavering in our support of fair competition for our student-athletes. It is crucial that NAIA member institutions, conferences, and student-athletes participate in an environment that is equitable and respectful. With input from our member institutions and the Transgender Task Force, the NAIA's Council of Presidents has confirmed our path forward.”

How the Media Covered It: The Washington Post (Lean Left bias) noted that the vote is “spurring concerns among transgender-rights advocates that the NCAA may follow suit” and added that “The science surrounding any physical advantages transgender women may retain over cisgender women is unsettled, and research is ongoing.” Editor's Note: The title of this summary previously said the NAIA banned "transgender athletes." Transgender men and boys can still participate on women’s teams if they were born female and haven't begun hormone therapy.