Women’s sports bosses have been warned they could soon find themselves in court if they fail to boot trans players from female-only competitions.
Olympian Sharron Davies is set to tell Parliament on Tuesday that British sporting organisations risk legal action if they do not restrict women’s categories to biological females — and the Great British PAC says it is standing ready to support the legal challenges “all the way”.
Speaking ahead of a crunch meeting in Westminster, Davies told the Telegraph: “Even after the very clear Supreme Court ruling on what a woman is and the 1975 Sex Discrimination Act, sports are still choosing men’s feelings over women’s reality and our rightful opportunities to fair sport, free from any and all males.
“It’s simply wrong. It’s time for women to firmly say no. And if we have to, we will resort to more litigation.”
The warning will be issued during the first session of a new all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on women’s rights, launched by ex-MP Rosie Duffield.
The meeting follows a landmark Supreme Court ruling three months ago which declared that the word “sex” in the Equality Act refers to biological sex — not gender identity.
Campaigners say the ruling should force sports to tighten their rules. The group Women’s Rights UK, which supports the APPG, revealed that while 21 national sporting bodies have acted to protect women’s categories, 38 still allow trans women to compete. A further 18 either have no clear policy or are reviewing their positions.
Duffield, an independent MP, said: “I set up the APPG on women’s rights following the Supreme Court ruling because so many issues arose from that and it’s clear that so many public bodies and institutions have been misinterpreting the Equality Act.
“We need to have discussions with sporting bodies, public buildings providing bathrooms, clubs and organisations. It’s important that the law is followed correctly and we will be keeping an eye on how that unfolds.”
While sports such as football have updated their rules to restrict women’s categories to biological females, others… including rounders, taekwondo, wrestling and weightlifting, continue to allow trans women to take part in female events.
British Weight Lifting currently permits trans women to compete if they meet specific testosterone requirements. Meanwhile, the Lawn Tennis Association bans trans players from elite women’s events but still allows participation in casual club-level play.
England Golf has drawn further criticism for allowing trans women to compete in amateur events and access women’s changing rooms.
Heather Binning, of the Women’s Rights Network, said: “Tomorrow’s meeting will focus on protecting and promoting women’s sports and the failure by too many sporting bodies to protect single-sex sport and encourage greater participation by women and girls.
“In the absence of leadership to address the erosion of women and girls’ sports, the APPG will be an opportunity for parliamentarians to discuss how we can address this and promote safe and fair sporting opportunities for women and girls at both elite and grass-roots levels.”
The issue has split opinion across the sporting world, but Davies says the time for talking is over.
“Bringing women together at this event is ever-more-needed as women continue to be treated like second-class citizens in our own races and spaces,” she added.
A Great British PAC spokesperson said:
“This is a watershed moment for women’s sport. The Supreme Court ruling couldn’t be clearer, sex here means biological sex. Any organisation ignoring that is not only putting women and girls at risk of unfairness, but also breaking the law.
“The Great British PAC are ready to support legal action wherever necessary. Biological women shouldn’t have to share podiums, changing rooms or playing fields with biological males. Enough is enough.
“This isn’t about hate in anyway whatsoever. This is about fairness, safety, and the right of women and girls to compete on a level playing field. A biological woman should never have to face a biological… chromosomal male in a boxing ring, for example. It’s just not right. We stand with every athlete who’s had their voice ignored for far too long.”
