Evie Parts, a transgender runner, has filed a federal lawsuit in Pennsylvania against both the NCAA and Swarthmore College after being removed from the school’s women’s track team. The lawsuit claims that the NCAA’s policy barring male athletes from participating in women’s events is discriminatory.

Parts, who identifies as female, stresses that the NCAA’s updated policy has unfairly disqualified her from competition. The lawsuit also implicates Swarthmore’s track coach Peter Carroll and athletic director Brad Koch, among others.

Details Surrounding the Case

The legal action comes after Parts was informed of her removal from the women’s track team on February 6, 2025, coinciding precisely with the announcement of the NCAA’s new policy that restricts participation in women’s sports to those “assigned female at birth.” This change followed closely after an executive order from President Donald Trump aimed at clarifying Title IX protections for biological females.

Claims of Emotional Distress

According to the complaint, the enforcement of this policy by Swarthmore officials caused Parts significant emotional distress, leading to a depressive state that included self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

Her legal representative, attorney Susie Cirilli, characterized the NCAA’s stance as a “bigoted policy,” asserting that Swarthmore’s adherence to it disregarded both federal and state laws.

Institution Responses

The NCAA has not provided comments regarding the lawsuit, while Swarthmore released a statement emphasizing its commitment to supporting transgender community members. The college acknowledged the challenges faced by Parts during this transitional period but noted their efforts to balance the opportunities for all athletes on the women’s team.

Implications of Trump’s Executive Order

Trump’s executive order led to a significant shift in NCAA policies, disallowing male athletes from competing in women’s events while still permitting them to train alongside them. NCAA President Charlie Baker remarked that this new standard provides essential clarity in the realm of sports.

This policy affected not only current participants but also those previously cleared to compete under older regulations.

Long-Term Consequences and Ongoing Legal Challenges

Parts initially joined the Swarthmore team in 2020 and returned to competition in 2023. Following her removal, Parts was given options to either join the men’s team or compete unattached; however, her only pathway to receive medical treatment required her to join the men’s team. Eventually, Swarthmore reinstated Parts on April 11, enabling her to compete on the women’s team until her graduation.

This lawsuit is not an isolated instance; it follows another high-profile case in New Jersey where a transgender athlete, Sadie Schreiner, has also taken legal action against Princeton University for similar reasons.

The Broader Context of Title IX Legal Battles

The litigation stemming from Trump’s executive order has prompted a wave of resistance from various states, including California and Minnesota, challenging federal guidelines and leading to investigations by the Department of Education.

As this legal landscape evolves, two related cases regarding state transgender sports bans are set to be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court this fall, with potential ramifications for the future of women’s athletics in the United States.