The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has confirmed that controversial transgender runner Sadie Schreiner will no longer compete for the school following President Donald Trump’s executive order banning trans athletes from women’s sports. The NCAA has also updated its rules to align with the president’s policy.
“We continue to follow the NCAA participation policy for transgender student-athletes following the Trump administration’s executive order. Sadie is not participating in the next meet,” an RIT spokesperson told Fox News.
Schreiner has now been officially removed from the school’s team, according to the university.
The runner previously drew criticism for celebrating victories over biological female competitors on social media, fueling debate over transgender participation in women’s sports.
The NCAA formally changed its rules last week to prohibit transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, following Trump’s executive order revising federal Title IX protections.
NCAA President Charlie Baker, who had previously resisted changes to the association’s policies and declined meetings with women’s sports advocates such as Riley Gaines, acknowledged that the order provided a “clear, national standard” for participation.
“The NCAA is an organization made up of 1,100 colleges and universities in all 50 states that collectively enroll more than 530,000 student-athletes,” the NCAA stated. “We strongly believe that clear, consistent, and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today’s student-athletes instead of a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court decisions. To that end, President Trump’s order provides a clear, national standard.”
The NCAA Board of Governors is reviewing the executive order and plans to align its policies accordingly. “The Association will continue to help foster welcoming environments on campuses for all student-athletes. We stand ready to assist schools as they look for ways to support any student-athletes affected by changes in the policy,” the statement added.
