When a high school cross country runner was disqualified recently after placing third in a race at a state championship meet, Georgia Rep. Douglas Collins suspected that it had something to do with the Bible verse embroidered on his headband.
According to Fox News, the verses embroidered were "Isaiah 40:30-31," which state: "Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."
Last Nov. 7, Green competed at the Georgia 5-A cross country state championship. He won third place in the race but was unfortunately stripped of his victory right after crossing the finish line.
His headband became an object of curiosity during that race. Green had worn his headband since the start of the 2015 season. He even wore it at region and sectional meets. Not once has he been told to take it off. After all, there is no rule prohibiting athletes from wearing headbands.
However, just minutes before Saturday's race, a race official asked Green to take off his headband so he could inspect it. The athlete, who goes to West Forsyth High School complied, even when he was told to turn it inside out because of the writing inside it.
Then, just before the race began, another official ordered Green to completely remove the headband. His coaches expressed concern that without the headband, Green might encounter a safety problem because of his long, curly hair.
"We felt given the race course conditions, that John would not be able to run safely without something to keep his hair out of his face," Assistant Coach Scott Griffith said.
Race officials agreed that Green could wear the headband. But after crossing the finish line, they decided to disqualify him for breaking a rule, which wasn't even a rule in the first place.
"If John did not break a rule, we believe he cannot be disqualified from the race and his individual result and our appropriate team placing must be reinstated," his coach said. "It is hard to understand how an unreadable, inside-out Bible verse is something harmful to our sport and worthy of a post-race disqualification of a student athlete."
Collins agreed. On his personal Twitter account, he wrote: "Religious expression being squashed right here in the Ninth District. This is outrageous."
For its part, the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) admitted that there is really no rule that violates headbands, but they do have a rule allowing referees to make up their own rules. This is why they will let Green's disqualification stand.
"The referee has the sole authority for ruling on infractions or irregularities not covered within the rules," reads NFHS Rules Book, page 14, Section 4 REFEREE, Article 6.
That day, the referee decided that a headband is similar to a beanie, toboggan or ear covers – which athletes are prohibited from using – unless they are unadorned.
To further support the referee's decision, the GHSA said: "The fact that it was of a religious nature did not enter the decision whatsoever."
