Former Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines was among a group of college athletes who filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on March 14, accusing it of violating their Title IX rights by allowing trans swimmer Lia Thomas to compete at the national championships in 2022, an ESPN item noted.
In all, 16 former and current collegiate female athletes filed the suit against the NCAA, the University System of Georgia and other institutions in the Northern District of Georgia, per On3NIL.
Thomas was the first openly transgender athlete to win a Division I title in any sport, finishing in front of three Olympic medalists for the championship.
Another plaintiff, Tylor Mathieu of Florida, finished ninth in the preliminary heats of the 500 freeleaving her one spot from swimming in the final that Thomas would eventually win.
Other plaintiffs included athletes from volleyball and track. The lawsuit said the plaintiffs "bring this case to secure for future generations of women the promise of Title IX that is being denied them and other college women" by the NCAA. In 2022, the NCAA followed the lead of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and revised its policies on transgender athlete participation to attempt to align with national sports governing bodies.
The Independent Council on Women's Sports (ICONS) also announced exclusive funding to support the lawsuit.
So far, the NCAA has not weighed in on the suit.
Andrew Davis