The Court for Arbitration in Switzerland has rejected a complaint by M2F transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, who argued that attempts to prevent her from competing in elite women’s races are invalid, unlawful and discriminatory, according to GWU Public Interest Law Professor John Banzhaf. The professor noted that the decision was based on the major athletic…
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Julie Sommer, Executive Director of The Drake Group Education Fund (TDGEF), has called upon higher education leaders, coaches, and athletic directors, to confront “the epidemic of unfair treatment of female coaches and administrators in college athletic programs.” “We must confront the reality that female coaches and administrators are still being unfairly treated because of their…
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The Sports Lawyers Association (SLA) has announced that Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman will receive its Michael Weiner Award of Excellence, the highest honor bestowed by the association, on May 10 during its 49th Annual Conference in Baltimore. For details on the conference and attending the event, visit https://www.sportslaw.org/conferences/2024conf/ “It is in keeping with the…
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The likelihood that a girl will participate in high school sports in the United States is driven not so much by individual choice, new research suggests. Instead, decisions made by parents, the wealth of one’s family and community, and racial dynamics matter. By combining interviews with elite college athletes and analysis of data on over…
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On April 4-5, the University of Miami will host the 2024 Global Entertainment & Sports Law + Industry Conference,tackling topics including “The Revolution of AI” with insights by industry leaders, hot issues in the Latin American music industry and a women’s sports roundtable. Authorities in their fields, speakers include Dallas Cowboys general counsel Jason Cohen, Fanatics Collectibles…
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Sheri Brenden, author of “Break Point: Two Minnesota Athletes and the Road to Title IX,” will speak at Luther College in Iowa on April 11 at 7 p.m. in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall, along with her sister, Peg Brenden. The book covers Peg’s involvement in a landmark civil rights case to…
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Winston negotiated a settlement between Natalie Ryan, a transgender female athlete, and the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), which makes her and other transgender women who have completed two years of hormone therapy eligible to compete in the female professional open division at all PDGA events. As part of the settlement agreement, the PDGA dropped…
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On February 7, 2024, National Girls and Women in Sports Day, U.S. Senator Christopher Murphy (CT-D) and U.S. Representative Alma Adams (NC-12-D) introduced the Fair Play for Women Act in the 118th Congress. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Representatives Lori Trahan (D-MS-03) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1) co-sponsored the legislation. Donna A. Lopiano,…
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Hackney Publications announced today the release of the latest episode of Sports Law Expert Podcast, which features Ellen Zavian (https://www.ithaca.edu/faculty/staurows), a sports law professorial lecturer at The George Washington University School of Business and Law School and General Counsel for USA Lacrosse. The podcast segment can be heard here (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/holt-hackney/episodes/A-visit-with-Sports-Lawyer-Dr–Ellen-Zavian–of-USA-Lacrosse-e2dq7b4) Going forward, those interested in being…
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Tomorrow morning, current and former NCAA female athletes, coaches, and parents will rally outside of the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, to demand that the organization “stop discriminating against female athletes by allowing males to compete in women’s sports.” The rally’s theme, “We Won’t Back Down,” reflects the determination of…
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