USA Volleyball (USAV) has become the latest organization to revise its gender eligibility policy, aligning with President Donald Trump’s executive order that seeks to bar transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports. This policy change, effective immediately, mandates that all members participate as a member of the gender assigned at birth, effectively banning transgender athletes from competition. The updated guidance follows similar actions by other sports organizations, including USA Fencing, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), which revised its policy to comply with the executive order.
As a federally chartered organization, USAV has an obligation to comply with federal expectations, according to the USOPC. In a letter, USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland and President Gene Sykes emphasized the importance of ensuring fair and safe competition environments for women. All National Governing Bodies are required to update their policies in alignment with the federal directive.
USA Volleyball’s previous policy for the 2024-2025 season allowed transgender athletes to compete in USAV-sanctioned events if they met specific criteria. These included informing USAV at least six weeks before competition, a statement of intent to compete in the gender opposite of birth, a statement from a treating physician with medical records, and lab reports of testosterone levels for athletes over 13. For those assigned male at birth, testosterone levels had to be within the upper limit of the normal female reference range for their age group or, for adults over 18, less than 10 nmol/L for a minimum of one year prior to competition.
The new policy strictly limits athletes to compete under the gender listed on their birth certificate, applying to all USAV-sanctioned events in the U.S. This change follows the president’s executive order, signed on February 5, which has prompted several sports organizations to adjust their policies. The NCAA was the first to implement a policy change the day after the executive order was signed. Following a months-long investigation, the University of Pennsylvania also made modifications, and at least 24 states have enacted legislation banning transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports.