College of the Ozarks takes stand on NAIA taking championship from North Carolina

College of the Ozarks President Jerry Davis announced Tuesday the school will not participate in the 2016 Cross Country National Championships unless championship returns to North Carolina.

The NAIA relocated the championship away from Charlotte as fallout from the state's bathroom law. The NAIA argues the legislation creates an "atmosphere of discrimination."

“It’s not the business of the NAIA to tell the citizens of North Carolina how to regulate their bathrooms, nor should athletes be political pawns," said President Davis. "This is another example of political correctness gone berserk and is a big mistake."

The NAIA's Council of Presidents made the decision after an 11-9 vote. They made the decision at its annual fall meetings.

“The NAIA’s important “Champions of Character” initiative is undermined when a small group of presidents don’t appear to adhere to the NAIA’s own statement of core values, which includes ‘keeping commitments," said President Davis. "It appears the Council has lost touch with its own administrators and no doubt much of the public at large."

There are no other NAIA championships planned in 2016 for North Carolina. The NCAA moved all of its championship events from the state earlier this year.