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The decision, effective immediately, came a day after President Trump signed an order barring transgender girls and women from playing in women’s sports at federally funded educational institutions.
- Feb. 6, 2025Updated 4:30 p.m. ET
Only athletes who were assigned female at birth will be eligible to play women’s sports at N.C.A.A.-member colleges and universities, the organization announced on Thursday.
That decision, effective immediately, came a day after President Trump signed an executive order barring transgender girls and women from playing sports in the women’s category at federally funded educational institutions.
“We strongly believe that clear, consistent and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today’s student-athletes instead of a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court decisions,” Charlie Baker, the president of the N.C.A.A., said in a statement. “To that end, President Trump’s order provides a clear, national standard.”
The N.C.A.A.’s previous policy on transgender athletes gave each sport’s national governing body the power to decide the parameters of their participation. That included setting the limits on testosterone levels and sometimes deeming how long athletes must suppress their testosterone before being eligible to compete.
The executive order is based on the administration’s interpretation of Title IX, the 1972 civil rights law prohibiting sex discrimination in educational programs that receive federal funding. Barring transgender girls and women from women’s sports was one of Mr. Trump’s campaign promises.
“From now on, women’s sports will be only for women,” he said on Wednesday after signing the order, as a group of female athletes surrounded him.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Juliet Macur is a national reporter at The Times, based in Washington, D.C., who often writes about America through the lens of sports. More about Juliet Macur
