Princeton University is facing a lawsuit from transgender athlete Sadie Schreiner, who claims she was removed from a women’s race moments before it began at a university-hosted track meet on May 3rd.
Schreiner had registered as an unaffiliated runner for the women’s 200-meter event at the Larry Ellis Invitational. The lawsuit filed in New Jersey Superior Court states that her name was taken off the start list without any given reason. When she approached the staff, she was referred to Athletic Director John Mack and Track Operations Director Kimberly Keenan-Kirkpatrick.
Court documents state that Keenan-Kirkpatrick asked if she was transgender and suggested organizers had considered placing her in a different event.
The lawsuit names both university officials and Leone Timing and Results Services, the company managing the meet. Schreiner’s legal team argues the decision violates the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, which prohibits bias based on gender identity in public venues, including schools and athletic events.
Her attorney, Susie Cirilli, called the incident a serious breach of civil rights.
The NCAA recently changed its eligibility rules to limit participation in women’s sports to athletes assigned female at birth, aligning with World Athletics policies. Schreiner, who previously ran for the women’s team at Rochester Institute of Technology, became ineligible following that update and a Trump-era executive order.
In a post on X, Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli criticized the lawsuit and said transgender women should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports.
Schreiner has continued to compete in non-NCAA events but indicated the tightening restrictions may end her running career in the U.S.
