It’s a step in the right direction even if they are missing the point that men shouldn’t be on female teams period. The NCAA is revising its trans policy. Before confused men only had to suppress their testosterone for one year, but now in an effort to be fairer, they are going to be tested quite often to ensure they have hormone levels close to their competition.
“The policy is effective starting with the 2022 winter championships. Transgender student-athletes will need to document sport-specific testosterone levels beginning four weeks before their sport’s championship selections. Starting with the 2022-23 academic year, transgender student-athletes will need documented levels at the beginning of their season and a second documentation six months after the first. They will also need documented testosterone levels four weeks before championship selections. Full implementation would begin with the 2023-24 academic year.
“We are steadfast in our support of transgender student-athletes and the fostering of fairness across college sports,” said John DeGioia, chair of the board and Georgetown president. “It is important that NCAA member schools, conferences, and college athletes compete in an inclusive, fair, safe and respectful environment and can move forward with a clear understanding of the new policy.”
“Approximately 80% of U.S. Olympians are either current or former college athletes,” said Mark Emmert, NCAA president. “This policy alignment provides consistency and further strengthens the relationship between college sports and the U.S. Olympics.”
“The changes to the policy came after a transgender swimmer, who was deemed eligible to compete as a woman after a male-to-female transition, broke records during the competition for the University of Pennsylvania female swim team. The NCAA’s previous policy was to allow male swimmers to compete as female following one year of testosterone suppression.”
This is not enough. Men who have gone through puberty will still have the advantage. The NCAA here is missing the point and it’s really easy, a concept most of us grew up with. Men belong on the men’s teams and females belong on the female teams. It’s the only way it is fair when it comes to physical sports.