A male athlete identifying as female has filed a lawsuit against Princeton University after being removed from a women’s track and field event. The lawsuit, filed by Sadie Schreiner in New Jersey Superior Court, claims the university violated state anti-discrimination law by excluding the athlete from competition in the women’s 200-meter race at the Larry Ellis Invitational in May 2025.
According to the complaint, Schreiner was told just 15 minutes before the race that she could not compete. Event staff allegedly referenced her gender identity in the decision, reportedly saying, “I do not want to assume, but you are transgender.” The athlete’s legal documents, including a driver’s license listing her gender as female, were presented to officials, but she was still removed from the competition. Schreiner described the experience as “humiliating, dehumanizing, and dignity-stripping.”
The legal action cites the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD), which prohibits discrimination based on gender identity or expression. Schreiner’s attorney, Susie Cirilli, argues that the removal was unlawful and caused emotional and physical harm. The lawsuit names Princeton University along with specific officials involved in the decision.
In court filings dated August 22 and 25, Princeton denied that the athlete’s removal was based on gender identity. The university has not commented further on the pending litigation. The case raises questions about the intersection of state law and the growing national debate over male athletes competing in women’s sports.
Critics of the lawsuit argue that preserving fairness for biological female athletes is not discriminatory. Paul Dupont, a policy director at American Principles Project, said, “As a male, Schreiner should not be competing in the female category, period.” The Ethics and Public Policy Center also issued a statement saying that denying biological sex is itself dehumanizing to women.
The case emerges as state and federal authorities continue to address the inclusion of transgender-identifying males in women’s athletics. Several states have enacted laws prohibiting male participation in female categories, and President Trump signed an executive order earlier this year limiting women’s sports to biological females. The NCAA has updated its eligibility rules, but enforcement remains inconsistent.
This lawsuit could set a legal precedent on how universities balance state non-discrimination laws with biological realities in competitive sports.
