SCHOOLGIRL athletes were suspended after a row over training in sports bras during hot weather – while boys were allowed to go topless.
The teenage track and field stars claim they were ordered to leave practice because their outfits were a "distraction" to male coaches.
Some of the school's leading athletes then missed a crucial athletics contest amid a furious row between parents and officials.
The girls were even accused of "posing a continuing danger" to the school in Albany, upstate New York.
They claim officials came down on them hard after they started a petition to be allowed to wear sports bras at training.
It shows a photo of 12 girls in the crop top style sports bras they were wearing, and complains about the "gender biased dress code".
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Creator Jordan Johnson wrote: "We’re being punished for practicing in sports bras in the presence of male coaches, while the boys team was asked nicely to put shirts back on and was not punished."
The row erupted last week when members of Albany High School's Falcons squad stripped off during a hot training session.
They believed their outfits were perfectly decent, especially as the boys ran without tops.
But schools district sports director Ashely Chapple ordered them to leave the training session, they claim.
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Talented sprinter Jordan told the Times Union: "She confronted us about wearing sports bras and saying we couldn't wear sports bras because we have male coaches.
"She said us working out is a distraction. We have to cover up because male coaches are around."
Later the same day, some of the girls went to watch a lacrosse game, and claim that Chapple and three security guards kicked them out.
On Friday, hours after the petition was shared online, a total of 13 members of the girls' track and field team were suspended.
It left only two members of the Falcons to compete at that evening's Shenendehowa Invitational, and the team did not score a point.
Chapple hand-delivered letters to each suspended girl on Saturday, claiming they had used vulgar language – which they deny.
The letter also claims each girl "poses a continuing danger to persons or property or an ongoing threat of disruption to the academic and athletic process."
Bra wars
Alexis Arango, another of the girls, told the Times Union: "We're a danger to persons or property and an ongoing threat? That makes no sense at all."
Her mother Rosario Balarin added: "I found the language in the letter to be very disconcerting just for the fact they are saying my daughter is a danger to the school and to the team.
"I have never had any issues or challenges with her during her school career.
"The vibe I got when speaking with Miss Chapple was one of it being personal at this point with the girls [more] than professional. This is a very sad and unfortunate situation."
Kayla Huba, another of the girls, claimed they were disciplined for taking a stance.
She said: "I think it is because we tried to stand up for ourselves. She (Chapple) just wants to be in the right. She doesn't want to hear what we have to say."
Chapple did not respond to the paper's requests for comment.
The school district claimed the girls were suspended for their conduct at the lacrosse game, and not for wearing sports bras.
But the girls claim school Principal Jodi Commerford told them they were suspended because of the sports bras at a meeting on Monday.
"She went back and forth between the sports bra and us showing up to the game," Alexis said.
District Superintendent Kaweeda G. Adams said: “Members of the Albany High School girls’ track and field team served a suspension Friday due to inappropriate and disrespectful behavior directed toward an administrator.
"Their suspension was in no way related to wardrobe. It was entirely related to their inappropriate conduct, and in alignment with our Student Code of Conduct.
“We addressed the matter related to practice attire with male and female members of the Albany High track and field teams last week.
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"The information communicated to both groups of student-athletes was the same – that their practice attire did not align with our Student Code of Conduct.
“As a result of Monday’s meeting, members of the girls’ track and field team have agreed to participate on the committee that reviews the Student Code of Conduct for next school year. That work will include a review of the sections related to student attire.”
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