The National Collegiate Athletic Association decided not to involve itself in the transgender debate last week when it changed its policy to defer to each sport’s national governing body. In many sports, this amounts to a green light for males wanting to compete against females. USA Swimming, which oversees college swimming, has said that it’s committed to providing an “opportunity for all athletes to experience the sport of swimming in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity and expression.” This prompted the resignation of Cynthia Millen, a USA Swimming official. “I can no longer participate in a sport that allows biological men to compete against women,” Millen said.
It’s disappointing, though not surprising, that the NCAA is unwilling to make a definitive statement in support of female sports. A cop-out like this allows athletes such as Lia Thomas, who is male, to continue to dominate female competitors. Thomas has just made headlines again, after winning races in a female meet against Harvard University.