login
who are we?
contact us
qosheapp
U Tennessee Track & Field Head Coach Seeks Preliminary Injunction Against "Untruthful, Derogatory and Offensive Statements" Plus More Commentary
The Volokh Conspiracy
Mostly law professors | Sometimes contrarian | Often libertarian | Always independent
About The Volokh Conspiracy Editorial Independence Who we are Books Volokh Daily Email Archives Search DMCA RSS
Free Speech
U Tennessee Track & Field Head Coach Seeks Preliminary Injunction Against "Untruthful, Derogatory and Offensive Statements" Plus More Commentary
A Magistrate Judge recommended today that the injunction be denied on First Amendment prior restraint grounds.
Eugene Volokh | 7.22.2026 12:53 PM
From a Report and Recommendations today by Magistrate Judge Jill McCook (E.D. Tenn.) in Ross v. Lambert:
According to the allegations in the Complaint, Plaintiff is a former collegiate track and field champion, 2004 Olympian, and the current Head Coach and Director of Track & Field at the University of Tennessee." In August 2022, Plaintiff hired Defendant "to serve as the track and field Recruiting Coordinator—which was a non-coaching, administrative position." Plaintiff alleges that less than a year later, in May 2023, he "advised [Defendant] that he was being terminated from his position as Recruiting Coordinator at the University of Tennessee." He claims that he "gave [Defendant] the option of 'voluntarily resigning' from his position in lieu of being fired for cause[,]" which Defendant accepted.
Plaintiff contends that on May 30, 2024, Defendant sent the Office of General Counsel at the University of Tennessee ("University") a demand letter ("May 30 Letter"), "threatening to sue the University and [Plaintiff] for 'wrongful termination and discrimination' if he did not receive payment of $150,000 from the University." According to Plaintiff, "Defendant … made a series of patently false and inflammatory allegations against [Plaintiff] in the [May 30] Letter and warned that he would go to the media with his allegations if the University did not settle." Specifically, the Complaint asserts that "[Defendant] made … knowingly false and derogatory statements[,]" including:
"Past Misconduct: Duane Ross has a documented history of questionable behavior. He received a two-year suspension from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for using performance-enhancing drugs, disqualifying all his results since November 2, 2001. His involvement in the BALCO steroid case further underscores his troubled past." "Family Issues: His son, Randolph Ross Jr., has also been suspended for doping violations. Randolph Ross Jr.'s suspension through June 30, 2025, for whereabouts failures and tampering with an email raises questions about the environment and influence under Duane Ross's watch. Where do you think he learned that from?" "Athlete Violations. Under His Watch: Under Duane Ross's leadership, North Carolina A&T faced multiple suspensions of top athletes for doping violations. Grace Nwokocha was suspended right before the World Championships for doping. Additionally, Ross used an athlete who was not cleared by the NCAA, resulting in the forfeiture of team titles and performances. These incidents, though they occurred before his tenure at Tennessee, are closely tied to him and paint a picture of ongoing integrity issues." "Mr. Ross is not representing your brand appropriately, nor did he follow your procedures or policies, and I'm sure you provided him with all the tools to succeed and comply with your standards. This lack of competence raises serious questions about his ability to lead a program as esteemed as the University of........© Reason.com
visit website