The high-school student-athlete who had her track title stripped for celebrating with a fire extinguisher is reportedly contemplating legal action to get it back.
Clara Adams, of North Salinas High School, told PEOPLE that she is considering suing the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) for taking her gold medal away.
Driving the news: Adams competed at the CIF State Track & Field Championships in Clovis late last month and came away with the gold medal in the 400-meter final.
- After she won, Adams walked up to the stands and received a fire extinguisher from her father, David Adams, and proceeded to use it in celebration.
- CIF officials disqualified her and took her gold medal away because the celebration was considered unsportsmanlike.
What we’re watching: Per the report from PEOPLE, Adams is considering legal action against the CIF if her title is not reinstated.
- Adams and her family have retained attorney Adante Pointer to potentially litigate the case.
What they’re saying: Adams told PEOPLE that she got inspiration for the celebration from watching Olympic champion Maurice Greene spraying his cleats with a fire extinguisher after he won a race in 2004.
- “My dad said that for me to win, my spikes would have to be on fire,” Adams told the publication.
- David Adams said CIF officials berated her and ignored him when he tried to get an explanation.
- “As a father I was angry about how they physically grabbed and yelled at her,” David Adams told the publication. “I am still at a loss as to why they treated her and that way. She’s a kid and they treated her like an adult and gave her the maximum punishment without any warning or explanation.”
- Pointer said, “CIF’s rules and regulations are byzantine and outdated. Nevertheless, we were hopeful they would do the right thing without us having to bring this issue into a court of law as it is clear they did not follow their own rules and regulations which irreparably harmed a young budding track star by robbing her of the state title without proper justification or cause.”
- He added, “CIF did not follow their own rules which led to Clara being denied a crowning achievement as the state of California 400-meter champion. This may cost her scholarships, NIL deals and other opportunities now and into the future. Not to mention the emotional distress associated with the track meet officials physically grabbing and yelling at her. She can never relive that moment.”
