UK sports bodies ban trans women from female categories as mass Parkrun protest launches today

Thousands of runners across the UK are staging a mass protest today to demand that Parkrun exclude trans women from its female category, after one transgender competitor took victory in more than 100 women's events. Reality Rules Runners UK, a newly established club, is pressing Parkrun — which organises more than 1,400 weekly events — to align with last year's Supreme Court ruling holding that trans women do not qualify as female under the Equality Act. The Football Association of Wales and the Royal Yachting Association have already updated their eligibility rules to limit female categories to biological sex, after receiving formal legal warnings drafted by ADF International.

Olympic swimmer Baroness Sharron Davies and yachtswoman Tracy Edwards have given Parkrun a deadline of next Friday to remove trans women from its female category or face legal action.

Davies said: 'Allowing transwomen to compete as female is not only completely unfair, it is illegal.'

Ten sports bodies received legal warnings citing Section 195 of the Equality Act, which permits sex-based restrictions where physical differences affect fairness or safety.