NCAA changes transgender athletes policy

College athletes previously only had to be taking hormone therapy to compete with students of the opposite sex. But the NCAA announced Wednesday that transgender participation will be decided on a sport-by-sport basis by each sport’s national governing body. Beginning with the 2022 winter championships, transgender athletes will need to document testosterone levels in compliance with their specific sport four weeks before the selection of championship participants. Eighty percent of Olympic athletes compete in collegiate sports first, and this brings the NCAA in line with the International Olympic Committee policy.

Why the shift? University of Pennsylvania transgender swimmer Lia Thomas was on the men’s team for three years but competed on the women’s team this season. Thomas, a man, broke several records, igniting controversy and calling attention to the NCAA’s policies. Under the new policy, Thomas will need to comply with USA Swimming’s criteria to participate at the NCAA championships in March.

Dig deeper: Read Mary Jackson’s article in Relations on the backlash to Thomas breaking women’s swimming records.