High school track team suspended amid sports bra controversy
A high school in the United States is at the centre of controversy after banning members of a track team after they complained about not being allowed to practice in sports bras.
Members of the Albany High School girls’ track and field team in New York were reportedly asked to leave practice last week for wearing nothing over their sports bras.
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The athletes complied with the request to leave practice but felt they had the right to wear their sports bras during hot weather, just as male athletes should be allowed to take their shirts off.
However under school policy, neither male or female athletes are allowed to do so.
Jordan Johnson, a sprinter in grade 10, told the local Times Union: “[Albany School District Athletic Director Ashley Chapple] confronted us about wearing sports bras and saying we couldn’t [just] wear sports bras because we have male coaches.
“She said that before and she said us working out is a distraction. We have to cover up because male coaches are around.”
Johnson then started a petition titled: “Stop Gender Biased Dress Codes: Allow the Girls Track Team to wear Sports Bras.”
The petition includes a photo of the team wearing their sports bras and flexing their muscles for the camera.
The petition's description reads: “Support the Albany high girls track team as we protest the gender biased dress code.
“The athletic administration staff is attempting to exclude us from our sport as a result of the misinterpretation of the dress code.
"We’re being punished for practising in sports bras in the presence of male coaches, while the boys team was asked nicely to put shirts back on and was not punished.”
This is such a bad look for the city school district. https://t.co/mXXa1IEmgR
— Steve Hughes (@shugheswrites) May 18, 2022
Track team suspended after confrontation
The controversy then took a further twist on Friday when 13 members of the team were suspended, leaving them with just two athletes for the Shenendehowa Invitational later that night.
The team didn't score a single point as a result.
According to the Times Union, the athletes were suspended for using 'vulgar language' during a confrontation with Ms Chapple at a school lacrosse game.
Ms Chapple reportedly had the girls removed from watching the game with the help of three security guards.
But Johnson, along with teammates Kayla Huba and Alexis Arango, claim no foul language was used.
A letter from Ms Chapple to the athletes states that they “pose a continuing danger to persons or property or an ongoing threat of disruption to the academic and athletic process.”
After a meeting with Albany High School officials, 12 members of the team have since been reinstated and will be allowed to compete at the team's next meet.
Ron Lesko, director of communications and operations for Albany school district, said the initial suspensions were “due to inappropriate and disrespectful behaviour directed toward an administrator”.
“Their suspension was in no way related to wardrobe,” Lesko said.
“It was entirely related to their inappropriate conduct, and in alignment with our Student Code of Conduct.
"We addressed the matter related to practice attire with male and female members of the Albany High track and field teams last week.
"The information communicated to both groups of student-athletes was the same – that their practice attire did not align with our Student Code of Conduct.
“As a result of Monday’s meeting, members of the girls’ track and field team have agreed to participate on the committee that reviews the Student Code of Conduct for next school year.
"That work will include a review of the sections related to student attire.”
It might be time to find new coaches if your adult male coaches are distracted by the girls on the track team working out in sports bras. https://t.co/0MucJaZypt
— Mike Goodwin (@goodwintu) May 18, 2022
I'm a proud graduate of the Albany High track team. Current leadership needs to do better: https://t.co/yOUyG7bAMR
— Sara Germano (@germanotes) May 18, 2022
As an Albany High track team alum and the school's 1 mile record holder, this is disgraceful from the school and the athletic director, who is the only one who should be suspended. @albanyschools https://t.co/MNhJpYztCw
— Michael Sainato (@msainat1) May 18, 2022
Oh no. Not again. Stop policing what women and girls can wear—all these school administrators are doing is telling girls they should be ashamed on their bodies. 😡
If you'd like to show support for the Albany girls' track team, here's the petition: https://t.co/pxBmFPfvxi https://t.co/XUvZgbjKWw— Erin Strout (@erinstrout) May 18, 2022
Outrageous and so petty! Complete misuse of authority by the athletic director! Our girls are dangerous and pose a threat? To whom? Albany High girls' track team members suspended after starting petition over sports bras https://t.co/bTujhdNAtM via @TimesUnion
— Bruce Roter (@bruceroter) May 18, 2022
This is disgusting. ASD athletic department is perpetuating the idea that women don’t have autonomy over their own bodies. Albany High girls' track team members suspended after starting petition over sports bras https://t.co/aq9wiE4Vzi
— Melissa (@maps78) May 18, 2022
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