University of North Carolina tennis player Reese Brantmeier recently filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking to allow student-athletes competing in Individual Sports to retain prize money earned in non-NCAA competitions without affecting their eligibility. Brantmeier, who won nearly $49,000 for finishing third in the 2021 US Open, is seeking a preliminary injunction to challenge the NCAA’s longstanding amateurism rules.
Brantmeier’s lawyers argue that the NCAA’s rules prohibiting student-athletes from accepting prize money interfere with their earning potential and educational opportunities. They point out recent changes in NCAA rules related to student-athlete compensation, including allowing payments for use of their name, image, or likeness.
The court filing highlights examples of other athletes who were permitted to maintain amateur status despite earning significant prize money in competitions, such as swimmer Katie Ledecky and swimmer Joseph Schooling. Brantmeier’s legal team also pointed out the disproportionate impact on lower-earning individual sport athletes, particularly women.
The lawsuit challenges the NCAA’s rules that prevent student-athletes from accepting prize money earned in prestigious non-NCAA competitions, arguing that these restrictions limit opportunities for student-athletes to earn income and develop their athletic careers. Brantmeier’s case raises important questions about the NCAA’s treatment of student-athletes and the restrictions placed on their earning potential.
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