Muslim high school track star disqualified for wearing a “noncompliant” uniform

By SN Thursday January 17, 2008

Washington Post – January 16, 2008:

Juashaunna Kelly, the Theodore Roosevelt High School senior track star who was disqualified from Saturday’s Montgomery Invitational for wearing a noncompliant uniform, wore the same unitard yesterday and set three personal records at the D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association Invitational at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex in Landover.

Kelly, a devout Muslim, has worn the same uniform for two years, a single piece of spandex that includes a hood and covers her torso, arms and legs in accordance with her religious beliefs.

Other track coaches have questioned the Montgomery County meet director’s ruling, saying it was a not a violation worth arguing.

“It was not giving anyone an advantage,” said Marvin Parker, the girls’ track and field coach at Dunbar. “I don’t think any coach would have a problem with that kid running. It’s not that serious. There’s an exception to every rule.”

38 Comments

the Three-Headed Cat™ says:

1/20/2008 at 8:13 am

Is that so? How nice.
Mister Catshit says:

1/20/2008 at 8:55 am

I guess that makes you wrong. And stupid. Not to mention, you are still a moran.
the Three-Headed Cat™ says:

1/20/2008 at 9:06 am

…yes, and my mother dresses me funny. It’s a tough life, I tell you.
fran says:

2/3/2008 at 8:20 pm

During the weeks following the January 12 Montgomery Invitational Indoor Track Championships in Largo, Maryland, there were articles relating to the supposed disqualification of a Muslim athlete being posted on both the major and local news media sources as well as on numerous blog sites. These articles, released through the AP by the Washington Post, were full of inconsistencies and inaccuracies and fueled a firestorm of religious discrimination debates, resulting in threats and volumes of hate mail directed at the meet director and officials.

In this January 30 newspaper article, the track officials have finally been allowed to tell their side of the story. I hope you will post this so that they too will have a chance to be heard. Thank you.

[Edited for length. Click the link to read the story rather than posting it here. — ed.]

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