KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A new National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) policy will ban transgender athletes from competing in women's sports. However, the policy still allows "all eligible student-athletes" to participate in NAIA-sponsored male sports.
NAIA's Council of Presidents (COP) voted 20-0 to adopt the new transgender policy, which will go into effect on August 1, at its annual convention on April 8.
According to the policy, "Only NAIA student-athletes whose biological sex is female may participate in NAIA-sponsored female sports." Additionally, the policy says a student who has not started hormone therapy "may participate without limitation."
If a student has started hormone therapy, they are not allowed to participate in intercollegiate competition. However, they are permitted to participate in team activities, workouts, and practices as well as non-conference play "at the discretion of the NAIA member institution where the student is enrolled."
These limitations have been put into place for all NAIA sports except for cheer and dance.
"With the exception of competitive cheer and competitive dance, the NAIA created separate categories for male and female participants," the NAIA said. "Each NAIA sport includes some combination of strength, speed, and stamina, providing competitive advantages for male student-athletes."
The policy also requires any institution to report to the NAIA national office in Kansas City if a student-athlete begins hormone therapy.
NAIA institutions in Arkansas include:
- Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock
- Central Baptist College in Conway
- Crowley's Ridge College in Paragould
- John Brown University in Siloam Springs
- Philander Smith College in Little Rock
- Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge
For two years, the NAIA's Transgender Task Force has evaluated whether their existing transgender policy needed to be changed.
Their previous policy from the 2023-24 season said the NAIA did not regulate transgender student-athlete participation in sex-separated sports during the regular season. Athletes were required to compete in activities with teams "in accordance with his or her assigned birth gender."
Additionally, regulations on athletes undergoing hormone therapy included:
- "A male-to-female (MTF) transgender student-athlete who is taking medically prescribed hormone treatment related to gender transition may participate on a men’s team at any time, but must complete one year of hormone treatment related to gender transition before competing on a women’s team."
- "A female-to-male (FTM) transgender student-athlete who is taking medically prescribed testosterone related to gender transition may not participate on a women’s team after beginning hormone treatment. Should the student-athlete be selected for drug testing at a national championship and test positive for a banned hormone substance, the student-athlete would be required to submit a medical exemption request to the NAIA National Drug Testing and Education Committee."
The NAIA says the new policy attempts to "offer fair competition," "create a structure that allows members to comply with Title IX," and "provide appropriate and reasonable opportunities for transgender athletes to compete."
"We are unwavering in our support of fair competition for our student-athletes," NAIA President and CEO Jim Carr said. "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."
According to the NAIA, "This policy will be subject to review in light of any legal, scientific, or medical developments."
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