CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference (MAC) has revised its existing Transgender Student-Athlete Policy. The decision was approved unanimously on Monday, October 11 by the Conference’s Council of Presidents at the recommendation from the Conference’s Joint Council (Director of Athletics, Senior Administrators & Faculty Athletic Representatives). A review of the policy was undertaken at the request of the Faculty Athletic Representatives and Council of Student-Athletes.
Among the Conference’s core values is a priority in inclusivity. This revised policy was updated to focus on inclusion and an obligation to support all individuals. In addition, the updated policy has broadened from a focus on medical protocols for transgender student-athletes to participate in Conference and NCAA competition, to further emphasis on inclusion and efforts to support and respect individuals.
This modernization was written in consultation with Athlete Ally and Equality Ohio. The Mid-American Conference’s policy revision is part of the member institutions ongoing efforts to create and provide a safe and welcoming experience for its student-athletes.
“The Mid-American Conference and its member institutions have long valued inclusivity,” said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher. “The revised Transgender and Non-Binary Athlete Inclusion Policy provides both a policy to ensure fair and equitable competition and a statement of support for transgendered and non-binary student-athletes. Our membership feels a sense of duty to be proactive on issues that affect student-athlete health and welfare as well as the student-athlete experience. We cannot be indifferent to the prejudice faced by some. Instead, we should celebrate the diversity of our communities in the operation of our intercollegiate athletics programs.”
The Mid-American Conference is fully committed to providing a safe, supportive, and respectful environment for student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and staff regardless of any differences based on race, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, sex and/or gender identity and expression.
TRANSGENDER / NON-BINARY ATHLETE INCLUSION POLICY
- Inclusion in athletics is a fundamental, core value for the Mid-American Conference and its member institutions. The Conference is fully committed to providing a safe, supportive, and respectful environment for all participants, coaches, administrators, and staff regardless of any differences based on race, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity and expression. The Mid-American Conference is committed to educating student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and staff on the importance of trans inclusion, and what it looks like in the way of practices, policies, procedures and norms of behavior.
- The Mid-American Conference and member institutions recognize that discrimination, prejudice, and victimization based on personal attributes, including gender identity and expression, will not be tolerated. The Conference is fully committed to ensuring trans identities are able to participate in safe, supportive and respectful environments.
- The Mid-American Conference and its member institutions are committed to having in place the necessary supports for student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and staff to successfully transition to ensure they are treated with respect and dignity and in accordance with their expressed needs.
- The Mid-American Conference and its member institutions will make every effort to learn and use the chosen name and pronouns of student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and staff. Failing to respect an individual’s gender identity or expression by continuing to use either an incorrect name or incorrect chosen pronouns is discriminatory and will not be tolerated.
- People of trans identities have equal opportunities to participate in sport programs. The Mid-American Conference, member institutions sponsor gendered competition for participation in NCAA championships. As such, the Mid-American Conference and its member institutions will remain well-informed and current of related eligibility policies that may impact trans student-athletes within the Mid-American Conference. The Conference and its member institutions will ensure the student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and staff are knowledgeable about these requirements and will work with trans student-athletes to fully support their eligibility choices.
- Athletic participation by trans identities is permissible in any gendered competition so long as the student-athlete’s use of hormone therapy, if any, is consistent with the NCAA policies on banned medications, as verified by the certifying institution.
- A trans male student-athlete who has received treatment with testosterone, for the purpose of NCAA competition may compete on a male gendered team but is no longer eligible to compete on a female gendered team without changing the status to mixed team.
- A trans female student-athlete being treated with testosterone suppression medication, for the purposes of NCAA competition may continue to compete on the male gendered team but may not compete on a female gendered team without changing it to mixed team status until completing one (1) calendar year of testosterone suppression treatment
- The Mid-American Conference encourages trans student-athletes to seek information regarding the status of any medications they are using to determine the use of prohibited medications and to ensure compliance with the NCAA and drug testing requirements where necessary.
- The Mid-American Conference commits to ongoing monitoring of developments regarding the implementation of this policy, including any unintended consequences.
