Philadelphia, PA – A long-distance runner named Evie Parts has taken legal action against the NCAA and Swarthmore College, along with several members of its athletic department. The lawsuit claims that Parts was wrongfully removed from the track team due to her status as a transgender athlete.
Parts filed her lawsuit shortly after the NCAA introduced a new policy on transgender athletes on February 6, which the lawsuit argues has no legal foundation. According to Parts, the NCAA is a private organization with no authority over state law in Pennsylvania or the federal Title IX regulations. This policy prevents transgender women from competing in women’s sports, which Parts says is discriminatory.
The suit also names Swarthmore’s men’s and women’s track coach, Peter Carroll, athletic director Brad Koch, and athletics officials Christina Epps-Chiazor and Valerie Gomez. Parts claims she was pushed into a severe depression and even considered self-harm after being removed from the team.
“We stand by the allegations in the complaint,” said Susie Cirilli, attorney for Parts. “The NCAA issued a policy that is bigoted, and Swarthmore College chose to comply with it rather than uphold state and federal laws.”
In response, Swarthmore College expressed its commitment to supporting its transgender community, stating, “This is a challenging time for transgender individuals, including our student-athletes.” They indicated that they aimed to support Parts amid changing guidelines while also prioritizing fair competition for the track team.
The NCAA has declined to comment on the lawsuit. The recent changes to its policies were made a day after an executive order was signed by the former President to restrict transgender participation in women’s sports. Furthermore, a Pennsylvania state Senate bill to ban transgender athletes in collegiate and K-12 sports was approved, although it faces uncertainty in the state’s House of Representatives.
Having joined Swarthmore’s track team in the fall of 2020, Parts competed in various events but faced challenges following the NCAA’s ban. She claims that after being removed from the women’s team, officials gave her the option to either join the men’s team or compete unattached. The lawsuit alleges she was denied coaching, funding, and the ability to wear official team attire during this time.
Swarthmore ultimately “fully reinstated” Parts on April 11, allowing her to compete on the women’s team until her graduation in May. The legal struggle does not seem isolated, as another transgender athlete, Sadie Schreiner, has also filed suit against Princeton University for similar reasons, seeking damages for distress caused during a track meet.
