The NCAA rule that transgenders must be on hormones for a year is a farce. Birth control would fill that requirement. "Birth control contain man-made forms of 2 hormones called estrogen and progestin." Thus fulfilling the NCAA requirements. June could take birth control for a year and be allowed to race as a female according to the NCAA and never take another hormone again after that year.
At the very least the NCAA should adopt the same scientifically based standards that the IAAF, the IOC, and USATF have imposed. As I understand them they are, one year of having their testosterone below a certain level and testing to make sure their testosterone stays below that level during competition.
Evan if the NCAA adopted that, it’s still not a fair playing field. June has had 21 years to develop more muscle mass, lower body fat, greater bone density (thus the ability to run higher mileage) a greater VO2 max, narrower hips, and no menstrual cycle.
This should not be an issue of what gender someone wants to be. This should be an issue of fair play. I am all for June becoming a female if she chooses to. There are consequences in life when one makes a decision. June has made the decision to transgender to female. One of the consequences of that decision should be that she is not able to compete as a female. That would be fair play.
As NCAA coaches I believe we need to take a stand for our female student athletes. The NCAA and the coaches association has know that this was coming and has turned a blind eye, not wanting to deal with it. As coaches we need to make a stand and force the NCAA to adopt as a bare minimum the USATF standards regarding transgender student athletes.
Paul Pilkington