Federal judge dismisses Riley Gaines' Title IX lawsuit against NCAA

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Riley Gaines and more than a dozen other current and former female college athletes, alleging that the NCAA violated their Title IX rights by adopting and enforcing policies that permitted biological males to compete in women's events and use women's locker rooms. 

U.S. District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson of the Northern District of Georgia concluded that the evidence failed to establish the NCAA as a recipient of federal financial assistance subject to Title IX. Johnson granted the NCAA's motion for summary judgment on the lawsuit's remaining claims, Fox News reported.  

"This momentary setback will not deter me or other women athletes in the least. Rest assured, we will be appealing this decision. We are on the side of truth. I am confident Americans will rally to our side to fight the NCAA," Gaines said in a statement. 

The judge rejected the athletes' arguments that the NCAA indirectly received federal funding, had oversight of entities that did receive the money or became a recipient as a result of reimbursements for certain employee travel expenses. 

"Here, there is no evidence that the NCAA ever received, or could have received, federal funds. Thus, Plaintiffs’ Title IX claims cannot proceed," Johnson wrote. 

The case stemmed from the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at Georgia Tech. Former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas was the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I championship. 

Gaines, who was at the time swimming for the University of Kentucky, tied Thomas for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle final. She and other female swimmers said they were required to share a locker room with Thomas during the championships. 

The plaintiffs have 30 days to file a notice of appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.