Judge on Title IX: Cheerleading Not a Sport

A federal judge in Connecticut has ruled competitive cheerleading is not an official sport that schools can use to meet gender-equity requirements.

U.S. District Judge Stefan Underhill says competitive cheerleading is too underdeveloped.

Wednesday's ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by members of the volleyball team at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn. The players sued after the school announced last year that it would eliminate the team for budgetary reasons.

The school replaced it with a competitive cheer squad to stay in compliance with the 1972 federal law that mandates equal opportunities for men and women in athletics.

Quinnipiac has 60 days to come up with a plan to keep the volleyball team and comply with gender rules.