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The mother of Kye Allums, a basketball player for George Washington University women's team, said that the school is preventing her son from playing despite medical clearance and stifling talk about his being the first openly transgender person to play NCAA Division I basketball.
The mother of Kye Allums, a basketball player for George Washington University women's team, said that the school is preventing her son from playing despite medical clearance and stifling talk about his being the first openly transgender person to play NCAA Division I basketball.
Outsports.comspoke with Allums' mother about the allegations, which the university denies.
“Rolanda Delamartinez said in a phone interview [with Outsports.com] that Allums - who has missed all but eight games this season because of two concussions - has been prevented from playing, even though she says he no longer has any symptoms from the concussions. She said Allums was told he would have to run for two hours straight to be cleared,” the Washington Post reported.
GW athletic director Jack Kvancz said that Allums was not able to satisfactorily complete a 20-minute run. Delamartinez claimed that her son was cleared to play by a team doctor two weeks ago, and then the decision was reversed.
The Post also reports that, “Delamartinez said her son wants to help other transgender athletes but school officials have refused to allow him to tell his story to reporters. According to Delamartinez, school officials told her and Allums not to speak to any reporters because the school had arranged to give an exclusive to Oprah Winfrey.”
Kvancz said that he was not aware of any special arrangements with Winfrey, and that he told Allums to focus on academics and basketball until after the season.
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