Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has signed a bill into law protecting athletes' religious expression. The bill was inspired by an Ohio teen disqualified from a cross-country race for wearing a hijab without a required waiver.
The measure signed Monday by DeWine prohibits school sports regulators from requiring advance waivers or otherwise restricting participants' religious apparel unless it causes a “legitimate danger."
Bill sponsor Sen. Theresa Gavarone researched the legislation based on the experience of Noor Abukaram, a suburban Toledo runner disqualified over her hijab in 2019.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association has since changed its rules to let referees approve such head coverings without a formal waiver.
