Warning issued to governing bodies over fairness in women’s sport

Parkrun and nine other sporting organisations have been warned to stop men competing in women’s events or face legal action.

The Women’s Sports Union, set up by Olympic silver medallist Sharron Davies — now Baroness Davies of Devonport — and sailor Tracy Edwards MBE, wrote to the organisations explaining that they are contravening the Equality Act 2010 and are at risk of legal claims.

The letter was sent to the Football Association of Wales, Irish Football Association, British Powerlifting, Swim England, British Gymnastics, Royal Yachting Association, Parkrun, British Baseball Federation, BaseballSoftballUK, and Rounders England.

Essential safeguard

The Women’s Sports Union stated: “Biological sex is not a negotiable category; it is the essential foundation for safeguarding women and girls and preserving fair competition”.

It indicated that not complying with the Equality Act 2010 in light of the Supreme Court ruling on biological sex could expose them “to immediate and substantial legal liability” from female athletes “whose opportunities and achievements are displaced or diminished”.

The campaign group also warned of “increased insurance and tort liability from elevated injury risk” by allowing men to compete in the female-only category.

True scandal

Lady Davies said: “It is a true scandal that men are still allowed to compete against women in sport, a year after the For Women Scotland Supreme Court ruling.”

She called it “unacceptable” that some organisations “merely acted to protect sport at the elite level while allowing men to compete against women at the amateur level”. She added: “all women who play sport must be able to do so in a safe and fair environment”.

She also warned that women and girls may simply opt out of sport if their categories are not protected, and noted that “professional female athletes are drawn from the amateur pool”.

Edwards, who was part of the first all-female crew to sail around the world on the ship Maiden, added: “I have spent my sailing career promoting and facilitating women and girls into sailing and yet the misogyny 37 years after ‘Maiden’ hasn’t gone away, it has just changed shape.”