Former Gophers men's gymnastics athlete sues the University of Minnesota

Former Gophers men’s gymnastics athlete Evan Ng sued the University of Minnesota for eliminating his sport after filing a lawsuit Friday morning, claiming he is no longer a varsity NCAA gymnast because of sex-based discrimination engaged by the University.

Ng, a Chicago, Ill. native, is suing the University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents, University President Joan Gabel, and Gophers athletics director Mark Coyle on two counts: sex discrimination in violation of the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and sex discrimination in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

“Cutting the men’s gymnastics team in order to reach statistical parity between the ratio of male and female athletes and the general undergraduate enrollment at the University violates ‘Title IX’s rule that “no person shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in…any interscholastic, intercollegiate, club or intramural athletics offered by the recipient…,” the lawsuit said.

On Oct. 9, 2020, the University of Minnesota Board of Regents voted 7-5 in favor to cut the Gophers men’s gymnastics team while also cutting the men’s tennis and indoor track programs after referencing Title IX and statistical proportionality concerns as the reason for eliminating the three sports.

Read more: https://mndaily.com/269524/sports/former-gophers-mens-gymnastics-athlete-sues-the-university/