US college sports body NCAA bans transgender athletes from women’s sports following Trump’s executive order

The governing body for collegiate sports in the United States has banned transgender women from competing in women’s sports after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday on the issue.

Against this development, the National Collegiate Athletic Association a.k.a NCAA, announced on Thursday that it had revised its transgender policy.

The new policy states, “A student-athlete assigned male at birth may not compete on a women’s team.” It also says that even athletes who were female at birth will not be allowed to compete in women’s sports if they have undergone hormone therapy that increases testosterone, a male hormone.

NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a statement, “We strongly believe that clear, consistent and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today’s student-athletes.” He stressed that the new policy brings much-needed clarity as the organization modernizes college sports.

Aside the executive order, the change comes amid growing debates over how to maintain fairness in competitions involving transgender athletes as in the over 530,000 student-athletes from about1,100 colleges and universities across the US under NCAA.

Trump welcomed the move on social media, calling it a “great day for women.” He added, “I am proud to be the President to SAVE Women’s Sports.”

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe expressed support on Thursday for Trump’s executive order.

On social media, he said, “Preserving the integrity of competition in the female category is a fundamental principle of the sport of Athletics.”

He added, “Establishing clear, unambiguous policies is a critical first step.”

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday in a White House ceremony attended by female athletes, had signed an executive order aimed at banning transgender athletes from taking part in women’s sports.

Under the order, federal funding will be rescinded if schools and other entities fail to comply with the ban.

Trump also made clear that he will call on the International Olympic Committee to not allow transgender athletes to take part in the Olympics.

With the Los Angeles Games in mind, the order says the US government will review policies permitting admission to the United States of “males seeking to participate in women’s sports.”

Trump said at the signing ceremony, “My administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes” in the 2028 Olympics.

Recall in 2023, World Athletics banned transgender athletes who underwent male puberty from participating in women’s competitions.