Trans Athlete Sadie Schreiner Alleges Ban from Team USA Track Events Amid Quiet Rule Change

Transgender track and field athlete Sadie Schreiner has taken to social media to claim she was "threatened" and banned from participating in USA Track and Field (USATF) competitions. This alleged incident occurred during the USATF Maine Association Indoor Championships, marking yet another chapter in the contentious debate over trans athletes in competitive sports.

In a heartfelt video recorded beside a campfire, Schreiner suggested it might have been the last time she competed in the U.S. "I very likely just ran what will be my last meet in the United States," she shared, adding that she would seek opportunities to compete elsewhere, though likely not on American soil.

The controversy stems from a quiet but significant change in USATF’s transgender eligibility policy. Previously aligned with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which permits transgender women to compete in the women’s category, USATF has now adopted World Athletics’ stricter policy. This new rule bars any athlete who has undergone male puberty from competing as a woman. According to Schreiner, she was made aware of this change at 1 a.m., just hours before the competition.

"They tried to threaten me by saying they now adopted World Athletics' transgender policy," Schreiner said in the video. She further alleged, "USA Track and Field purely did this just to ban me from competing."

USATF Maine President Mark Dennett refuted Schreiner’s claims in a statement to Fox News, asserting that Schreiner did compete in the Maine event and no disqualification occurred. "The athlete did compete, and there were no disqualifications in the meet," Dennett confirmed.

The updated policy follows a series of controversial incidents involving Schreiner. Earlier this month, Schreiner participated in the USATF Open Masters Championships, where she secured victories in the women’s 400-meter and 200-meter dash events. However, her wins sparked significant criticism on social media, with opponents arguing her participation as a transgender athlete was unfair to other competitors. Schreiner believes this backlash prompted the recent policy change.

"USA Track and Field has silently banned trans athletes due to my participation," she stated.

Schreiner’s athletic career has been marked by both triumph and controversy. A former competitor for Rochester Institute of Technology's (RIT) women’s track team, she became a lightning rod for debate after dominating female opponents and openly discussing her experiences as a transgender athlete. However, Schreiner was ruled ineligible to compete for RIT in February 2024 after the NCAA revised its gender eligibility policy. This decision came just one day after a Trump administration executive order banned transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports.

Despite the setbacks, Schreiner has remained vocal, using her platform to advocate for trans inclusion in sports. "I would still love to educate more people if I was properly allowed to," she said in a previous statement, expressing frustration over what she perceives as a lack of understanding and dialogue.

The debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports has intensified in recent years, with Maine becoming a focal point. The state’s policies permitting trans inclusion in girls’ sports have faced challenges from the federal government, including a recent finding by the Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights that Maine violated Title IX. The state has been given a deadline to amend its policies or face referral to the Department of Justice.

For Schreiner, the fight for acceptance and fair competition seems far from over. While her future in U.S. track and field remains uncertain, her story continues to highlight the complexities and emotions surrounding this divisive issue.