Washington state high schools now will allow athletes who object to competing on a particular day for religious reasons to participate in post-season tournaments.
WND reported two athletes who belonged to the Seventh Day Adventist Church sued the Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association, the WIAA, after they were barred from post-season play because of their observance of the Sabbath.
The athletes, Joseph Chung and his sister Joelle, had to certify that they would be willing to participate in every level of post-season competition. Under the old rule, if only the final event fell on their Sabbath, Saturday, they would have been banned from post-season play entirely.
Now, the WIAA has added “religious observance” to its list of accepted exceptions.
The new rule reads: “By entering participants in postseason competition, each member certifies that barring injury, illness, religious observance, or unforeseen events, the team or individuals representing the school will participate in every level of competition through the completion of the state championship.”
Read more at WND.COM