Judge Dismisses Riley Gaines' Title IX Lawsuit Against NCAA Over Funding Claims
A federal judge in Georgia ruled that there is no evidence the NCAA receives federal funds, leading to the dismissal of Riley Gaines' Title IX lawsuit alleging discrimination against a transgender athlete.
A U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia dismissed a lawsuit filed by swimmer Riley Gaines that alleged the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) violated Title IX by allowing a transgender woman to compete. The judge found that the plaintiff’s claim that the NCAA receives federal funding was unsupported, noting that while the NCAA participates in a Department of Defense-sponsored concussion research consortium, it is not a direct recipient of federal dollars.
Judge Tiffany R. Johnson wrote, "There is no evidence that the NCAA ever received, or could have received, federal funds. Thus, Plaintiffs’ Title IX claims cannot proceed." The ruling also clarified that the federal funds flow to the research studies themselves, not to the NCAA as an organization.
Gaines, who competed against transgender athlete Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA championships, said she intends to appeal the decision, adding that her goal was to bring the case before the Supreme Court.
The decision comes amid ongoing debates over the application of Title IX to transgender athletes and follows recent policy changes affecting transgender student protections.