CHARLOTTE — The NCAA has issued a stern warning to state leaders: Fail to support an inclusive environment for all athletes and lose the chance of host tournaments.
The warning is directed at 30 states considering transgender sports bans, including both North Carolina and South Carolina.
[READ THE NCAA STATEMENT HERE]
The NCAA Board of Governors released a statement Monday that it will not host championships in places that discriminate against transgender athletes.
Both North Carolina and South Carolina are weighing bills to ban transgender girls from participating in sports that aren’t consistent with their gender identity.
The NCAA said all student-athletes are “expected to be treated with dignity and respect” and that tournaments will only be held in places where hosts can commit to a “safe and discrimination-free environment.”
“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.
Both Carolinas have hosted a number of ACC football and basketball tournaments over the years. The NCAA added that it would be closely monitoring states to determine whether games can be welcoming and respectful of all athletes.
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