A federal appeals court has dealt another blow to a coalition of sports participants and fans challenging James Madison University's plan to eliminate ten athletic teams.

A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday affirmed a judge's refusal to block the cuts while a lawsuit is pending.

JMU announced in 2006 that it was cutting seven men's teams and three women's teams to comply with a federal law requiring equality in men's and women's intercollegiate sports. The goal was to make participation in athletics match JMU's enrollment of 61 percent female and 39 percent male.

A group called Equity in Athletics sued, alleging unconstitutional gender discrimination. The appeals court said the group failed to show its chances of winning are strong enough to warrant a preliminary injunction.