Riley Gaines Appeals NCAA Title IX Ruling
Riley Gaines and ICONS challenge NCAA’s Title IX exemption, planning to appeal recent court decision.
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Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer, has announced her intention to appeal a recent federal court ruling that dismissed her case against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for allowing men to compete in women’s sports and access women’s locker rooms. The decision, issued by U.S. District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson in the Northern District of Georgia, ruled that the NCAA is not subject to Title IX protections, which are designed to prevent discrimination against women and girls.
Gaines and ICONS Plan Appeal
In a joint press release, Gaines and the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS) stated their commitment to challenging the ruling. Gaines, who was forced to compete against trans-identifying swimmer Lia Thomas, emphasized that the decision would not deter her or other women athletes. ‘This momentary setback will not deter me or other women athletes in the least,’ she said. ‘We will be appealing this decision. We are on the side of truth.’
Kim Jones, a co-founder of ICONS and a former NCAA All-American tennis player, echoed Gaines’ sentiment, stating that the court erred in its ruling. ‘We believe the district judge erred and that the Court of Appeals will find that the NCAA, which is the controlling body of college sports for over 1,100 member schools, is subject to Title IX,’ she said.
Protect College Sports Act Raises Concerns
The Protect College Sports Act, which passed the Senate on Monday, has also drawn criticism from Gaines and ICONS. The bill, which includes an amendment to prevent state laws from superseding it, is seen as granting the NCAA broad authority over eligibility decisions. ‘The PCSA’s overly broad exemption would short-circuit these lawsuits and halt efforts to hold the NCAA accountable under Title IX,’ Jones wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed.
Marshi Smith, another ICONS co-founder and former NCAA swimmer, urged lawmakers to oppose the bill. ‘The NCAA thinks it can use its vast financial resources to avoid responsibility to protect women’s opportunities in college sports,’ she said. ‘We won’t let the NCAA get away with it.’
Gaines and ICONS argue that the recent ruling effectively removes protections for women in NCAA competition and leaves no clear authority for women and girls to appeal. As the House of Representatives is in recess until after the midterm elections, the bill is unlikely to move forward until at least November.
Source: Daily Wire
