Football and cricket among 56 sports labelled ‘unfair to women’ because of trans policies

More than three quarters of major sports still allow transgender women to compete in their female categories, according to research by a leading campaign group.

Football and cricket were among 56 sports and events given a ‘Rotten Tomato Award’ by the Women’s Rights Network over their failure to ban those born male from women-only competitions.

The WRN Fair Sports Awards targeted 74 such sports and events, bestowing a ‘Fair Sport Gold Award’ to those to have banned transgender women outright and a silver award for those who have done so at elite level but not grass roots.

Only 11 sports were deemed worthy of the top prize: rugby union, rugby league, athletics, boxing, triathlon, Ultra X (ultramarathon), volleyball, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, waterski and wakeboard, and wheelchair basketball.

Silver awards went to swimming, cycling, rowing, badminton, diving, netball and water polo.

WRN, which describes itself as a feminist group and network of women from the UK which aims to “defend the sex-based rights of women”, said: “The Unfair Rotten Tomato is awarded to those sports that allow males into the female categories at all levels of training, recreational sport and competition.

“The Rotten Tomato signifies that the sport does not care about safety and fairness for its female participants. Included in this category are the sports that have no policy in place.

“This is unacceptable. Women and girls deserve better.

“The Sports Councils Equality Group, in 2020, conducted extensive research into inclusion, fairness and safety, and concluded that the inclusion of males into the female category could not be justified as this would adversely affect the safety and fairness of women’s and girls’ sport.

“WRN calls on all sports and events to introduce fair and safe sport for women and girls of all ages, and all levels of sport from recreational through to elite competition.”