Ithaca College Violates NCAA Gender Policy by Allowing Trans Athlete in Women's Rowing Event

The college attributed the breach to a misunderstanding, as the NCAA confirms no penalties have been issued yet.

Ithaca College allowed Juniper (Tyler) Gattone, a trans athlete, to compete in a women's rowing event over the weekend, violating the NCAA's updated gender eligibility policy.
The NCAA policy, revised in February 2025, prohibits athletes assigned male at birth from competing on women's teams, even with amended documentation.
The college cited a misunderstanding by its coaching staff about what constituted an official NCAA event as the reason for the breach.
The NCAA has acknowledged the violation but has not announced any penalties or voided results from the competition.
This incident has reignited debates over the enforcement of NCAA policies and lingering loopholes that critics argue undermine fairness in women's sports.