NCAA releases statement on transgender participation

The NCAA Board of Governors released a statement Monday that it will not host championships in places that discriminate against transgender athletes.”The NCAA Board of Governors firmly and unequivocally supports the opportunity for transgender student-athletes to compete in college sports. This commitment is grounded in our values of inclusion and fair competition,” the statement read in part.”The NCAA has a long-standing policy 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. Inclusion and fairness can coexist for all student-athletes, including transgender athletes, at all levels of sport,” the NCAA’s statement read. A spokesperson told 40/29 the NCAA has not made decisions about specific championships at this point in time but is monitoring the situation.Kevin Trainor, Chief public relations officer for Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek, also noted that the University of Arkansas did submit a bid for both NCAA baseball and softball regionals and super regionals Monday. The NCAA indicated to the school that the regional site selections for softball will be made the week of April 26 and baseball regional site selections will be made the week of May 10.Arkansas has recently hosted NCAA Baseball regionals and super regionals as well as SEC track and field events.In response to the NCAA’s Statement, Governor Asa Hutchinson said, “It is disappointing to see the NCAA take this punitive approach. Sports does not need to disenfranchise a state just because it passes a law that the NCAA finds objectionable. As time goes on, I expect the NCAA to relax its position because there are already multiple states that have adopted a similar law as we have in Arkansas. In addition, the NCAA has already taken the first step to protect the integrity of women’s sports by setting standards for transgender participation.” Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed a bill last month that bans transgender students from joining teams consistent with their gender identity. He released a statement to the press saying the law “will help promote fairness in women’s sporting events.”Some professional cyclists are boycotting the OZ Trails U.S. Pro Cup hosted in Arkansas because of recent pieces of legislation on transgender people.The state legislature overrode the governor’s veto last week to ban hormone treatments and gender reassignment surgery for minors.

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