NCAA Officially Bans Transgender Athletes From Competing in Women's College Sports

The NCAA banned transgender athletes from competing in women's college sports Thursday, a day after President Donald Trump's executive order did the same.

"The new policy limits competition in women's sports to student-athletes assigned female at birth only. The policy permits student-athletes assigned male at birth to practice with women's teams and receive benefits such as medical care while practicing. This policy is effective immediately and applies to all student-athletes regardless of previous eligibility reviews under the NCAA's prior transgender participation policy," the NCAA wrote in a statement.

The organization explained its Board of Governors voted to change its policy in accordance with Trump's Wednesday order outlawing transgender women from competing in women's sports.

NCAA President Charlie Baker clarified back in December that less than 10 transgender athletes compete in college sports.

"Female athletes work our entire lives to compete in sports, only to have the NCAA destroy our even playing field. Competitive sport is a zero-sum game, where some athletes make the cut, others do not; someone wins, others lose. In a zero-sum competition, the inclusion of male-bodied athletes in women's sport inevitably means FEMALES LOSE OUT," The organization OurBodiesOurSports has previously wrote.

According to the organization, over 7,000 female NCAA athletes sent letters to the organization asking to ban trans women in competitions.

"This executive order is a malicious and baseless attack on trans girls and women nationwide. Every child deserves a quality education, including the opportunity to participate in school athletics, which teaches students of all ages the value of teamwork, dedication, and ambition," Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, Executive Director of Advocates for Trans Equality said in a statement..

"This executive order isn't about protecting women and girls in sports—it does nothing to address the real issues facing women and girls in athletics, such as unequal access to funding and facilities, abuse by coaches, physicians, and other trusted adults, and the unconscionable gender pay gap in professional sports. The facts are clear: there is no scientific evidence that trans women and girls have any inherent advantage over their non-transgender peers in sports."

The NCAA also stressed that individual schools have the "autonomy" to establish participation rules, though compliance with federal and state laws will take precedence.

Legal challenges continue to mount against Trump's policies overturning transgender rights. Activists and medical professionals have already sued over recent executive orders that end funding for gender-affirming care and ban transgender people from military service. Civil rights attorneys argue these orders exceed presidential authority and violate constitutional protections.