Evie Parts, a transgender runner, is suing the NCAA and Swarthmore College, alleging she was illegally removed from her track team under new rules.
Athlete Challenges Removal from Team
Evie Parts, an American distance runner, has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA and Swarthmore College, claiming she was unlawfully removed from her women’s track team because she is transgender. The case, filed this week, also names several athletic officials as defendants.
Policy Change Sparks Dispute
Parts was dismissed from Swarthmore’s women’s track program on February 6, 2025, the same day the NCAA announced its new policy restricting women’s competition to athletes assigned female at birth. According to the complaint, officials told her she could only compete on the men’s team or as an unattached athlete.
Legal Grounds and Allegations
The lawsuit argues that the NCAA’s ban lacks legal standing because it is a private organization, not a governmental body, and therefore cannot override Pennsylvania state law or Title IX protections. Parts’ attorneys described the policy as discriminatory, saying it drove her into depression and self-harm.
School and NCAA Responses
Swarthmore College issued a statement expressing support for transgender students, while emphasizing the challenge of balancing NCAA regulations with team participation. The NCAA declined to comment, citing pending litigation.
Background on Athlete’s Career
Parts joined Swarthmore’s track team in 2020 and returned to competition in 2023 after several seasons away. Despite the restrictions, she was “fully reinstated” on April 11, 2025, and competed with the women’s team until graduating in May.
Wider Context of Transgender Athlete Policies
The NCAA’s updated policy followed an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump seeking to ban transgender participation in women’s sports. In Pennsylvania, lawmakers recently passed a bill barring transgender athletes from competing at K-12 and collegiate levels, though it awaits further debate in the state House. Similar cases are emerging nationwide, including a July lawsuit against Princeton University over alleged discrimination at a track meet.
What Comes Next
Parts’ lawsuit seeks damages and broader recognition of transgender athletes’ rights. As the case unfolds, it is expected to become part of a growing national debate on inclusion, fairness, and the limits of institutional authority in collegiate sports.
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