In a letter sent to the NCAA on Tuesday, over 400 former and current collegiate, professional, and Olympic athletes urged the organization not to ban transgender athletes from women’s college sports. The letter implored the NCAA to focus on the well-being of all athletes, regardless of gender, and to develop policies based on research, education, and collaboration. It was signed by notable athletes such as Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe, and R.K. Russell.
The NCAA responded by stating that college sports are the primary platform for women’s sports in America, and they will continue to uphold Title IX and invest in women’s sports. They also emphasized the importance of fair competition for all student-athletes. In 2022, the NCAA issued new guidelines for transgender women’s participation in sports, which included a requirement for one year of testosterone suppression treatment.
The debate surrounding transgender women’s participation in sports has been contentious, with a 2022 Gallup poll indicating that 69% of Americans believe transgender athletes should only participate on teams corresponding with their birth gender. Despite this, the athletes who signed the letter to the NCAA argued that allowing transgender athletes to participate in the sports they love, as their true selves, aligns with the spirit of Olympism and the transformative power of sports.
