Two world-renowned British female athletes and legal nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International sent letters to 10 sports entities April 23, threatening them with legal action if they refuse to comply with the United Kingdom’s (UK) laws protecting women’s sports from “transgender” athletes.
The letters, sent by former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies and sailor Tracy Edwards, cite a ruling last year by the UK Supreme Court that interpreted the country’s Equality Act of 2010 as based on biological sex, rather than gender identity. As a result of that decision, several governing bodies changed their policies to protect women’s sports, ADF International explained in a press release.
“Any governing body that continues to permit biological males to compete in the female category contravenes the Equality Act 2010 as interpreted by the Supreme Court,” the letters state. “This exposes the organisation to immediate and substantial legal liability.”
The letters highlight the harms that women risk when biological men are allowed to participate in female athletics, since men have physical advantages over women. They also warn that permitting “transgender” participation risks increased claims of discrimination and liability for injuries.
“Biological sex is not a negotiable category; it is the essential foundation for safeguarding women and girls and preserving fair competition,” the letters continue.
ADF International stated in the release that the sports entities have not changed their policies regarding women’s sports even in light of other organizations — including the International Olympic Committee and the Darts Regulation Authority — moving to protect female spaces.
Davies called it “a true scandal that men are still allowed to compete against women in sport” and cited examples of young girls being put in harmful or inappropriate situations due to men’s participation. She also noted that some organizations have protected women’s sports at elite levels but not in amateur and called for women at all levels to be allowed to compete in their own category.
“Today, we put 10 sports bodies that fail to recognise biological reality on notice,” she stated. “If they don’t act to do the right thing, we will not hesitate to pursue all legal options.”