Post by this guy on Oct 13, 2004 23:21:27 GMT -5
www.kusports.com
A former Kansas University track athlete has sued his former coach and athletic director, saying he unfairly was dismissed from the team earlier this year.
Stéphane Richard filed the lawsuit Friday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan. He claims coach Stanley Redwine violated his constitutional rights by kicking him off the team, and athletic director Lew Perkins violated his rights by allowing the dismissal.
"We're going to battle real hard, and hopefully the university will change its mind," said Richard's attorney, Michael Shultz, of Overland Park.
Richard, a Montreal native, came to KU in January 2003 to compete in the triple jump and long jump. He had been the Canadian high school triple-jump champion in 1999.
Shultz gave this account of what led to Richard's dismissal from the team:
Richard was talking with female track teammates in a hotel room this spring following the Big 12 meet in Norman, Okla. Redwine asked the teammates to "keep the noise down," then asked Richard to leave to speak with him in the hallway.
Richard protested, asking why he wasn't allowed to be in the room. The two then had words in the hallway.
The lawsuit says that "alleged act of disrespect by Richard toward Redwine" was the reason for his dismissal.
The suit also claims Redwine dismissed Richard "in order to favor his son over Richard." Stanley Redwine Jr. also is a longer jumper and triple jumper.
According to the lawsuit, Richard was notified in June by the Office of Student Financial Aid that his track scholarship would not be renewed. He wasn't told he was dismissed from the team until he attempted to be in a team photograph in August, when Redwine told him "in an intentionally hostile and demeaning manner that Richard was expelled from the team."
Richard, 21, also has not been allowed to use athletic department facilities for his training. The lawsuit says he has hopes of joining the Canadian national track team.
Jim Marchiony, an athletic department spokesman, said KU had received a copy of the lawsuit but declined to comment on it.
Richard's scholarship later was reinstated by the Student Athlete Appeals Board, and he remains at KU enrolled in computer engineering.
Shultz said he didn't believe Richard could have caused enough of a stir to be kicked off the team.
"He strikes me as a polite, nice fellow," Shultz said. "He doesn't seem like a troublemaker."