New Sports Policies Restrict Participation of Transgender Athletes in Canada and U.S.
Skate Canada has announced it will not host national or international events in Alberta due to the province's Fairness and Safety in Sport Act, which requires athlete eligibility policies to align with regulations restricting female-only divisions to biologically female athletes. This decision only affects national and international-level events; Alberta skaters remain able to participate in Skate Canada programming. Alberta last hosted the Skate Canada Challenge in November 2025 and the national championships in January 2024. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith condemned Skate Canada's decision as disgraceful and inconsistent with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and international community. Skate Canada will continue to monitor legislative developments and may reassess hosting opportunities as circumstances evolve. This move comes amid ongoing debates about transgender athletes' participation in women's sports in Canada and the United States, with the IOC reportedly considering similar policies. A related previous dispute occurred between Vancouver Island University and Columbia Bible College regarding a transgender player on a women's team.
In the United States, the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a roughly $901 billion defense policy package, includes a permanent provision banning biological males from competing on women's sports teams at U.S. military academies. The Senate passed the NDAA 77-20, and it is headed to President Donald Trump for signature. The ban provision stems from a December 9 administrative statement by Representative Mike Rogers, R-Ala. The NDAA supports broad defense priorities, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune described the legislation as a step in the right direction, with a defense appropriations bill expected later. Additionally, NCAA policy on transgender athletes was updated on February 6 to comply with President Trump's order. A federal appeals court recently allowed the Pentagon to temporarily enforce its ban on transgender service members, reinforcing the administration's position on the issue.
