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Southern Conference to keep championships in North Carolina

Bob Donnan / Reuters

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Southern Conference will keep four league championships in North Carolina despite the NCAA and the Atlantic Coast Conference withdrawing championships because of the state law restricting rights of LGBT people.

The league said Friday it will honor commitments for these championships: men's soccer in Greensboro, men's and women's basketball in Asheville and men's golf in Pinehurst.

The conference league said in a statement its presidents and chancellors ''reaffirmed their resolute opposition to legislation that discriminates against any individual.'' It added that it would monitor developments about North Carolina's law, which requires transgender people to use restrooms at schools and government buildings corresponding to the sex on their birth certificates.

It also excludes gender identity and sexual orientation from local and statewide antidiscrimination protections. HB2 was signed into law this year by Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, who has defended it as a commonsense safety and security measure.

Southern Conference leaders discussed the issue last week, requesting more information before deciding.

League commissioner John Iamarino said honoring commitments for the 2016-17 academic year ''does not punish the local host communities and gives our student-athletes the best championship experience we can provide.''

Since the venues will be controlled by the hosts, Iamarino said the league was confident of a safe, inclusive environment at the events.

The Southern Conference is headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Its 10 schools are in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

On Sept. 12, the NCAA removed seven championships from North Carolina, including first- and second-round games of the men's basketball tournament scheduled for Greensboro. The ACC soon followed suit, pulling 10 of its championships from the state, including the football title game that was scheduled for Charlotte.

The league on Thursday relocated the football game to Orlando, Florida.

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