A fierce dispute has erupted in American college sports after transgender volleyball star Blaire Fleming issued a starkly unsympathetic response to allegations from a former teammate that she triggered an eating disorder.
The Core of the Controversy
The row centres on claims made by Brooke Slusser, a former teammate of Fleming's at San Jose State University (SJSU). Slusser alleges that the stress and anxiety of discovering Fleming is a biological male, after previously sharing hotel rooms and locker rooms during the 2023 season, sparked the onset of anorexia. Slusser claims the condition was so severe it disrupted her menstrual cycle. She recently told Fox News: 'From the stress and how anxious I was every single day, I just wasn’t eating really at all.'
Fleming, who reportedly began transitioning at age 14, has responded with a brutal dismissal of these claims. 'I really don’t care or feel bad for her,' Fleming stated about Slusser. In her own account to Fox, Fleming asserted that Slusser 'has been anorexic and struggled with food since I’ve known her aka since 2023,' alleging Slusser would weigh herself multiple times daily and track it on a whiteboard.
Conflicting Accounts and Legal Action
Slusser has vehemently disputed Fleming's characterisation of her health history. 'These statements are just not true. I have always lived a very healthy lifestyle,' she insisted, claiming it was only after 'all the craziness started' that her disciplined athletic nutrition became unhealthy.
The fallout has extended far beyond a war of words. Slusser has filed lawsuits against both the NCAA and the Mountain West Conference, claiming she was unaware of Fleming's transgender status until April 2024. She also revealed she was forced to complete her final college semester from home after speaking out on the controversy that rocked the team.
Wider Repercussions for the Team
The controversy had tangible consequences for the San Jose State volleyball programme. The 2024 season, which was Fleming's last with the university, was marred by forfeits from rival schools and protests, casting a long shadow over collegiate sport and the ongoing debate about transgender athletes' participation.
Fleming concluded her pointed remarks with a further jab, stating of Slusser: 'And she didn’t drop her classes, she failed out, hope that helps!' This ongoing, deeply personal conflict highlights the intense and often painful human disputes underlying national policy debates on transgender inclusion in sport.
