Trans Athlete Sues Princeton University After Being Banned From Track Meet

PRINCETON, NJ — A transgender sprinter has filed a discrimination lawsuit against Princeton University after being removed from a track event just minutes before competition.

Sadie Schreiner, a former Rochester Institute of Technology All-American runner who was previously ruled ineligible under NCAA regulations prohibiting transgender women from competing in women's sports, filed the complaint Tuesday in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Mercer County. The lawsuit alleges violations of New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination.

The incident occurred at Princeton's Larry Ellis Invitational, where Schreiner was initially included on the competitor list for the 200-meter race.

According to court documents, meet officials had placed Schreiner on the heat sheet, but she was removed just 15 minutes before the event was scheduled to begin.

The lawsuit names Princeton Athletic Director John Mack as responsible for the decision to remove Schreiner from the competition. Court filings also identify Kimberly Keenan-Kirkpatrick, Princeton's director of track operations, as being involved in the decision.

“Simply stated, when Princeton University, unlawfully aided and abetted by the other individually named defendants, denied her right to run in the Larry Ellis Invitational track meet, they broke the law controlling guaranteed protections of the rights of transgender women,” the lawsuit said.

Schreiner transitioned during her high school years and competed as a short distance runner through high school and thereafter at Rochester Institute of Technology (“RIT), an NCAA Division III institution, the lawsuit said.

According to the lawsuit, when Schreiner went to the starting line area after finding her name delisted, the sprinter “found Mack and Keenan-Kirkpatrick, who reacted with the comment demonstrating her bias (‘I do not want to assume, but you are transgender’).”

Still wanting to participate, Schreiner offered to take physical tests and agreed to allow the officials to inspect the official papers, like a birth certificate and driver’s license, to reflect she was a woman. But was still refused, the lawsuit said.

“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 lawsuit said.

Schreiner's legal team argues that both Princeton officials were aware of her transgender status and used that knowledge to disqualify her participation, constituting discrimination under state law.

Schreiner is seeking damages and injunctive relief under New Jersey's anti-discrimination statute.

In February, the NCAA banned the participation of trans women in women’s sports following the Trump administration's executive order.

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