Over ten former and current college athletes has leveled serious allegations against the NCAA and entities within the University of Georgia School System, asserting that these institutions have failed to uphold the principles protecting Women’s’ sports competitions in the face of transgender policies. Their main issues is that the system isn’t stringent enough, and there have been too ‘lackluster policies’ that had thus far not protected non-trans women athletes from competing fairly against their peers.
The plaintiffs argue that the heart of the controversy stems from the NCAA’s policy on transgender athlete participation, which they claim has led to significant breaches and infringements on their right to privacy.
The defendants in this high-profile case are not just the NCAA but also the University System of Georgia, Georgia Tech University, University of Georgia, University of North Georgia, and the members of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. This legal action signals a critical juncture for the rights and representation of college athletes nationwide.
Over ten former and current college athletes has leveled serious allegations against the NCAA and entities within the University of Georgia School System, asserting that these institutions have failed to uphold the principles of Title IX. The plaintiffs argue that the heart of the controversy stems from the NCAA’s policy on transgender athlete participation, which they claim has led to significant Title IX breaches and infringements on their right to privacy.
The defendants in this high-profile case include the NCAA, as well as the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech University, University of North Georgia, and the members of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.
The lawsuit articulates a strong critique of the NCAA’s approach, accusing it of pushing an agenda that compromises women’s sports by reducing the definition of female athletes to testosterone levels and allowing individuals who identify as male to participate in women’s teams. The plaintiffs argue that this both erodes the sanctity of women’s locker rooms¬, by permitting individuals with male anatomy to undress in the presence of women who do not consent, but also exposes female athletes to uncomfortable situations that violate their constitutional rights to privacy.
According to the plaintiffs, this move is designed to boost the NCAA’s popularity on college campuses at a time when it is waning, all while diverting attention from the economic exploitation of college athletes. The athletes contend that this agenda is being pursued at the cost of female student-athletes’ rights and well-being, framing the issue as part of a larger discussion on the balance between inclusivity and the integrity of women’s sports.
These events facing the most attention include the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships scheduled to take place at the University of Georgia from February 18 to 22, 2025. Additionally, the NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships are set to make a return to Georgia Tech in 2026.
Furthermore, the University of North Georgia is poised to host the NCAA Division I, II, and III Women’s Rowing Championships in 2026; while Division I Women’s Tennis Championships are planned to be held at the University of Georgia in 2026.
The NCAA’s approach to transgender athlete participation became a focal point of controversy during the 2021-22 swimming season, largely due to Lia Thomas’s emergence as a trailblazer in the sport. Thomas made history as the first transgender athlete to secure a win in a women’s national championship, igniting a widespread debate on the NCAA’s policies.
In response to the growing scrutiny, the NCAA announced it would align its guidelines with those of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, deferring to the national governing body’s rules for each sport where applicable. This policy involves a ‘Three Phase rollout’ whereby only Phase 1 and 2 have gone into effect- requiring one year of documentation proving testosterone suppression treatment and then meet the require testosterone levels in multiple instances of physical testing
Phase 3 is slated to being later in 2024, requiring more stringent documentation and more vigorous testing throughout the year and in tighter windows based on competition dates.
Plaintiffs continue to claim that the NCAA isn’t taking enough measures and accountability, and needs to keep female athletic competitions on a level playing field.
