Veto of gender bill by Holcomb praised by IHSAA Commissioner Neidig

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb has vetoed a bill passed by the state legislature to address the participation of transgender athletes in high school girls athletics in the state.

In a statement released by IHSAA on Tuesday night, Commissioner Paul Neidig stated his support for Holcomb’s decision to veto the legislation and defer to the IHSAA’S current policy as adequate.

“In an ever-changing world, the IHSAA continues to work tirelessly to maintain fairness and equity in all education-based athletics. Protecting the integrity of girls’ sports is a worthy cause,” Neidig is quoted by the release. “That said, the specific language included in HB1041 does not adequately address all of the issues at hand.”

“As Commissioner of the Association, I support Governor Holcomb’s decision regarding his veto of HB1041,” he said. “Throughout the legislative process, I publicly expressed reservations with the proposed legislation only addressing a single-gender and the grievance procedure.”

In vetoing the bill Holcomb stated his confidence in the IHSAA’S handling of the issue with their current policy.

The release traces the history of the IHSAA’S gender policy, which was originally written in 2006 and updated in 2017.

Neidig states in the release that “the policy is rooted in the Association’s substantial interest in students’ health and safety, in competitive equity, in safeguarding a level playing field, and in ensuring that there is a fair opportunity for athletic participation in a manner that enhances the education of all high school students.”

“Through Governor Holcomb’s veto, this policy continues to allow the flexibility to assess competitive advantage in each unique case.”