Disqualified for Faith Based Uniform

Thursday 17th of January 2008 05:41:54 PM

Yahoo! News reports that Juashaunna Kelly, is being disqualified from her track competition because her uniform is not allowed during the meet. Kelly is Muslim and she had a uniform especially made for her that would be consistent with her faith and with being able to participate in track and field meets. She is one of the best runners at Theodore Roosevelt High School in District of Columbia, US.

Kelly does not understand why she was disqualified from the Montgomery Invitational indoor track and field meet. She has been wearing her uniform for the last three seasons without a problem. Her uniform is blue and orange unitard and it covers her head, arms, torso, and legs. She wears the traditional outfit of orange and blue t-shirts and shorts over the unitard.

The National Federation of State High School Associations decided that her uniform was no longer acceptable because it does not completely fall under the guidelines for track meet clothing. When the director approached Kelly with the issue, he knew she was dressed differently because of her religious beliefs. For this reason, he suggested that she wear a white t-shirt over her unitard so that she would be compliant. The association stated that she was not allowed to have any logos on her uniform but her mother, Sandra Kelly, states there is not any on her daughter’s uniform. She also states that the director said that Kelly had to take off her hood, which is against her faith. Kelly was not allowed to participate in the meet and will not be able to compete at New Balance Collegiate Invitational.