Title IX Victory! Judge Dismisses Wrestlers' Lawsuit

June 13, 2003

by Nicole Casta, Government Relations Associate

A U.S. District Court judge recently dismissed a lawsuit filed by a coalition of wrestlers who argued that Title IX policies require "quotas" for female athletes and have resulted in discrimination against men.

Judge Emmet Sullivan dismissed National Wrestling Coaches Association v. United States Department of Education on June 11 on the grounds that the wrestlers failed to show that Title IX caused their teams to be dropped and that even if Title IX were to be altered, the wrestling teams would not be reinstated.

The court's opinion was supportive of Title IX, describing it as a landmark civil rights statute enacted to remedy discrimination against women and girls. It also affirmed that Title IX's policies provide schools with the flexibility to decide how to structure their athletics programs, and that equal opportunity is only one factor in these decisions.

"The court's decision undermines the claims that Title IX is responsible for to cuts in men's athletic programs," said NOW President Kim Gandy. "It confirms that the Bush Administration should not only maintain the law, but enforce it more strongly."

Women's rights advocates noted that although the ruling is a substantial victory for Title IX, it may not be the end of the battle: The wrestlers have 60 days to appeal the decision to the D.C. Circuit, which is equally divided pending the nomination of Miguel Estrada.