Former Rochester Institute of Technology Sprinter Sadie Schreiner, an All-American who was ruled ineligible due to the NCAA’s ban on trans women in college sports, filed suit against Princeton University and representatives of the school athletic department, alleging violations of New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination.
The complaint, filed Monday, stems from Schreiner being removed from the final heat sheet of a Princeton’s Larry Ellis Invitational just 15 minutes prior to the 200-meter event.
According to the filing, Sadie Schreiner was placed on the list of competitors for the race by meet officials, but then removed by Princeton Athletic Director John Mack.
The lawsuit contends that Mack and Princeton of track operations Kimberly Keenan-Kirkpatrick had knowledge that Schreiner was trans and in turn disqualified her in violation of state law.
The suit also names Leone Timing and Results Services, which verified eligibility at the meet, as a defendant. Sadie Schreiner, first trans NCAA All-American in track since 2019, enjoys the past but ponders an uncertain future
According to the suit, Schreiner “went back to the starting line area and found Mack and Keenan-Kirkpatrick, who reacted with the comment demonstrating her bias (‘I do not want to assume, but you are transgender’).”
Schreiner offered the two officials her birth certificate and driver license that reflect she is a woman, the suit says. But she was allegedly rebuffed.
“The actions of the two Princeton officials were in blatant and willful disregard of Sadie’s rights based on Sadie’s rights as a transgender woman under controlling New Jersey law, thereby causing Sadie Shreiner to foreseeable emotional and physical harm,” the suit contends.
In the suit, Schreiner wants compensatory and punitive damages from Princeton for “actual malice when it discriminated against Sadie by removing her from the races because she is a transgender woman.”
“Gender identity and expression is a protected status under the NJLAD, ” Schreiner’s attorney Susan Cirilli told Outsports, “As included in the complaint, it is unlawful discrimination for any person to aid, abet, incite, compel or coerce the doing of any acts forbidden under the NJLAD. “
Since earning a third-place finish and All-American honors at the 2024 NCAA Division III track and field championships while at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Schreiner has been a prominent face in the discussion concerning transgender inclusion in sports, and has been target of anti-trans advocates.
The NCAA ban of trans women athletes earlier this year abruptly ended her season and competitive career at RIT.
Schreiner attempted to compete unattached at two other collegiate meets during the indoor track season and was denied. She was allowed to compete at a USA Track and Field master meet in New York, where she was falsely accused by an anti-trans media outlet as “taking first place from a 14-year-old.”
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