Riley Gaines has suffered a legal setback in her lawsuit against the NCAA after a federal judge dismissed the remaining Title IX claims in the case. US District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson ruled that the NCAA could not be treated as a recipient of federal financial assistance, which meant Title IX could not be used against the organisation in this lawsuit. Gaines and the other plaintiffs said they will appeal the decision to the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals. The ruling did not decide whether the NCAA’s former transgender-athlete policy amounted to sex discrimination.
Riley Gaines and Tiffany R. Johnson: Why the NCAA lawsuit was dismissed
The lawsuit was filed in March 2024 by Gaines and more than a dozen current and former female college athletes. It focused on the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at Georgia Tech.
At that meet, Lia Thomas won the 500-yard freestyle and tied Gaines for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle. Gaines and the other plaintiffs argued that the NCAA violated their Title IX rights by allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s events and by allowing them to use women’s locker rooms.
The case had already been narrowed before Monday’s ruling. Judge Johnson had dismissed several other claims involving Georgia Tech and state officials, while the Title IX claims against the NCAA were allowed to continue.
The latest dispute was about federal funding. Gaines and the other athletes argued that the NCAA received federal financial assistance through research work linked to the organisation and the US Department of Defense. Judge Johnson rejected that argument after reviewing the evidence.
“Here, there is no evidence that the NCAA ever received, or could have received, federal funds,” Johnson wrote in her order.
“Thus, Plaintiffs’ Title IX claims cannot proceed.”
The ruling therefore ended the remaining claims at the district court level. It did not decide whether the NCAA’s former policy was discriminatory under Title IX.
Riley Gaines plans appeal as Independent Council on Women’s Sports backs case
Gaines said the decision would not end her legal challenge. She and her co-plaintiffs have 30 days to file a notice of appeal with the 11th Circuit.
“This momentary setback will not deter me or other women athletes in the least,” Gaines said in a statement following the ruling.
“Rest assured, we will be appealing this decision. We are on the side of truth. I am confident Americans will rally to our side to fight the NCAA,” she continued.
“Working together, we will defeat the NCAA’s continuing efforts to trample women’s rights in sports.”
The Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS), which is funding the case, also said it plans to support the appeal.
“We believe the district judge erred and that the Court of Appeals will find that the NCAA… is subject to Title IX,” ICONS co-founder Kim Jones said.
“We will not give up our fight for women and girls’ rights in sports,” Jones added.
The next stage will now move to the 11th Circuit, where Gaines and the other plaintiffs will challenge Judge Johnson’s decision.
Courtesy : TOI
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