Overview

• Attorney General Jason Miyares concluded the college’s 2023 handling of a trans-identifying male on the women’s swim team deprived female athletes of sex-based accommodations and caused emotional, physical and dignitary harms.
• The complainants released the AG’s findings, which state that notified athletes may file civil actions seeking compensatory and punitive damages and injunctive relief under the Virginia Human Rights Act.
• The report cites possible retaliation, noting six swimmers had May Term travel-course applications rejected two weeks after they publicly opposed the inclusion of the athlete.
• Roanoke College President Frank Shushok Jr. disputes the conclusions, denies any violations or retaliation, says the student never competed on the women’s team and says the school adopted a stricter policy within six weeks based on then-current NCAA guidance.
• The case arrives as national disputes over transgender participation in women’s sports continue, with related lawsuits targeting NCAA policies and recent policy changes reported at the collegiate level.