Transgender Runner Sues NCAA and College Over Discriminatory Team Removal
In a landmark case that really highlights the ongoing fight for transgender rights in sports, long-distance runner Evie Parts has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA and Swarthmore College.
She claims the college kicked her off the track team because she’s transgender, which she says violates both federal and state laws.
This case brings up just how complicated and challenging things can get for transgender athletes, especially as policies keep changing.
The Controversial NCAA Policy
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The lawsuit centers on the NCAA’s new policy, which says only athletes assigned female at birth can compete in women’s sports.
They rolled out this policy on February 6, 2025—the same day Swarthmore removed Evie Parts from the team.
The timing alone has sparked a lot of debate about whether the NCAA’s move is even legal or fair.
Legal Grounds Challenged
Parts argues that the NCAA, as a private group, doesn’t have the right to enforce this kind of ban under Pennsylvania law or federal Title IX.
Her complaint calls the NCAA’s policy discriminatory and says it doesn’t have any real legal backing.
Susie Cirilli, her attorney, didn’t mince words—she called the policy *bigoted* and said Swarthmore College ignored protections for transgender people by following it.
Impact on Mental Health
The lawsuit also talks about how much this ordeal hurt Parts emotionally and mentally.
According to her complaint, Swarthmore’s athletic department actions left her in a *depressive state*, leading to self-harm and thoughts of suicide.
It’s a harsh reminder of how damaging these kinds of policies can be for transgender athletes’ mental health.
Swarthmore College’s Response
Swarthmore College responded with a statement, saying it stands by its transgender community members.
The college acknowledged it’s been a *difficult and painful time* for transgender student-athletes and said it tried to balance everyone’s needs.
Still, because of the lawsuit, the college wouldn’t discuss the details further.
Policy Implementation Challenges
All this shows just how tough it is for schools to follow new rules while also respecting the rights of transgender athletes.
Swarthmore chose to go with the NCAA’s policy, even though it might clash with the law, and that raises a lot of questions about what schools are supposed to do in these situations.
Broader Legislative Context
The NCAA’s policy change came right after former President Donald Trump signed an executive order to ban transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports.
Pennsylvania’s state Senate also approved a bill to ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s and girls’ sports at both college and K-12 levels.
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It’s unlikely the state’s Democratic-controlled House will vote on it, but these moves show how heated the debate is about transgender athletes in sports.
Previous Cases and Precedents
Evie Parts isn’t the only one in this fight.
In July, another transgender woman, Sadie Schreiner, sued Princeton University after she was removed from a track meet because of her gender identity.
Schreiner’s case, which asks for damages for a *humiliating and dehumanizing* experience, shows just how common these struggles are for transgender athletes.
Evie Parts’ Athletic Journey
Evie Parts joined Swarthmore’s track team in fall 2020, then took a break for the winter and spring seasons.
She came back to compete in indoor and outdoor track and cross country in 2023.
After the NCAA policy changed, the school told her she could either join the men’s team or compete unattached, but she’d get little support.
Conditions of Participation
The lawsuit says Parts faced a bunch of restrictions and discrimination.
She didn’t get coaching, medical treatment, travel privileges, or financial support, and she couldn’t even wear a Swarthmore uniform.
These conditions really show how hard it can be for transgender athletes to get equal access to sports.
Reinstatement and Graduation
On April 11, 2025, Parts was *fully reinstated* and competed on the women’s team until she graduated in May.
Her journey says a lot about the resilience of transgender athletes and the need for policies that actually include and support them in sports.
Looking Ahead
The outcome of Evie Parts’ lawsuit could shape the future for transgender athletes in college sports. It brings up tough questions about what private organizations like the NCAA should do when it comes to policies affecting transgender rights.
With the legal battle just starting, it’s worth keeping an eye on how schools and sports bodies handle these challenges. Who knows how they’ll respond, or what changes might come next?
For more information on this developing story, visit the full article on The Guardian.