Topeka ? The group that governs high school sports in Kansas has officially adopted a policy aimed at preventing schools from discriminating against referees and other sports officials.

The move by the Kansas State High School Activities Association Friday night was prompted by a February incident where St. Mary’s Academy near Topeka refused to allow official Michelle Campbell to work a boys basketball game because she was a woman. St. Mary’s is not a member of the association but was considered an approved school by the organization.

The association’s board of directors unanimously approved the change, adding a position statement to its handbook and a rule requiring member schools to accept qualified officials regardless of race, gender, religion or national origin.

The rule, which goes into effect at the start of the 2008-09 school year, also would be added to the application forms for approved schools, which aren’t association members but can use its officials.

“We have to have a system that provides assurances for people who put themselves out there as officials,” said Gary Musselman, the association’s executive director. “This association has demonstrated a commitment to support those officials.”

Schools that violate the rule won’t be eligible for full membership and won’t be allowed on the association’s “approved” list. Member or approved schools can compete freely with other member or approved schools.

Officials with St. Mary’s Academy declined to comment Friday. The school has avoided discussing the situation publicly but released a statement in February saying “formation of adolescent boys is best accomplished by male role models.”

In letters sent to Musselman and obtained by The Kansas City Star, St. Mary’s rector Vicente A. Griego defended the school’s policy on religious grounds. Griego also said he’d be interested to see how the association ultimately deals with the school’s beliefs and religious doctrine.

“A ‘disqualification’ of our school’s participation in the KSHSAA would certainly seem discriminatory,” he wrote.