NCAA Warns Okla. Transgender Sports Bill Could Impact Future Events

The NCAA says if Oklahoma passes a recent bill prohibiting transgender sports participation the state may not be selected to host NCAA championships.

One example of a NCAA championship Oklahoma hosts is the Division one college worlds series. According to ESPN, the state has hosted that event every year except for one since 1990 and as of now is set to host it until 2035.

But Monday the NCAA board of governors released a statement saying in part quote “When determining where championships are held, NCAA policy directs that only locations where hosts can commit to providing an environment that is safe, healthy and free of discrimination should be selected.”

SB2, prohibits anyone of the "biological" male sex from playing on athletic teams designated for women, females, or girls. It also allows female athletes to sue the school if they feel they've been “deprived of an athletic opportunity” because of a transgender student.

Across the United States, around 35 similar bills have been introduced this year, according to the LGBTQ rights group Freedom for All Americans. Bills in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas have been signed into law.

The bill is now eligible to be heard in the full House of Representatives.

Below is a full statement from the NCAA:

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 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. Our clear expectation as the Association’s top governing body is that all student-athletes will be treated with dignity and respect. We are committed to ensuring that NCAA championships are open for all who earn the right to compete in them.

When determining where championships are held, NCAA policy directs that only locations where hosts can commit to providing an environment that is safe, healthy and free of discrimination should be selected. We will continue to closely monitor these situations to determine whether NCAA championships can be conducted in ways that are welcoming and respectful of all participants.

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