SJSU won’t let player at center of transgender volleyball controversy do interviews
Blaire Fleming won’t be doing any interviews during the Mountain West Conference volleyball tournament.
The San Jose State player, at the center of an ongoing controversy over her gender, will be allowed to compete in the tournament after a federal judge in Colorado ruled in her favor.
While her presence in Las Vegas will bring about questions — several teams in the tournament are among those that have already forfeited game this season rather than face her — she will not be asked by SJSU to answer them.
San Jose State setter Brooke Slusser celebrates after scoring a point with libero Randilyn Reeves, outside hitter Blaire Fleming and libero Alessia Buffagni. AP
“We do not anticipate facilitating any interviews with players or coaches during the Mountain West Tournament,” a school spokesperson wrote in an email to Outkick.com on Tuesday.
To this point, neither the school nor Fleming have answered questions regarding her gender.
According to Front Office Sports, at least a dozen Mountain West conference players, including San Jose State’s Brooke Slusser, filed suit against the conference, its commissioner Gloria Nevarez and San Jose State administrators, as well as Spartans coach Todd Kress.
Multiple teams elected not to play against San Jose State this season amid claims the team had a transgender player. Mountain West schools Utah State, Nevada, Boise State and Wyoming refused to play the Spartans, resulting in forfeits. Nonconference opponent Southern Utah also elected to forfeit.
Blaire Fleming of San Jose State. Getty Images
The Utah State program joined as a plaintiff in the lawsuit, according to the Front Office Sports report.
Judge Kato Crews cited NCAA Title IX policy that prohibits discrimination against transgender people.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Mountain West Conference had already implemented a policy that transgender women can compete if tests show levels of testosterone normal for females. The schools that forfeited to the Spartans had already agreed on the rules pertaining to trans players’ eligibility, the judge noted.
The judge also questioned the timing of the emergency injunction, which was filed just before the conference tournament regarding a matter that had been established at the start of the season.
Blaire Fleming plays for San Jose State. San Josee State Volleyball
According to the Chronicle report, an appeal could be heard by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.
— With Post wires
