NCAA bars transgender women from competing in women’s sports

The National Collegiate Athletic Association on Thursday updated its transgender student-athlete policy to prohibit trans women from competing in women’s sports, one day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order stating the federal government would defund schools that allow trans women to do so.

The new policy says students assigned male at birth may practice with women’s teams and receive related benefits such as medical care, but they are not allowed to engage in formal competition. All students, regardless of gender or sex, may compete on men’s teams, though athletes taking testosterone must complete a medical exemption process. Students assigned female at birth who are taking testosterone or engaging in hormone therapy are also banned from women’s teams.

The NCAA previously followed…