SPORTING BODY POLICIES

UPDATED: JUNE 2026

It’s more than year since the Supreme Court Judgment clarified that the word woman in the Equality Act 2010 only applies to the female sex. In May the EHRC Code of Practice was finally laid before Parliament - the Code is merely guidance on how the Law should be applied to sports and service providers. The law is the law. 

 

Sports are crawling their way to full fairness and safety for ALL females from grassroots to elite but progress is very slow. Since our last update in March 2026 only five sports governing bodies have updated their policies to provide fairness and safety for women and girls. 

 

In 2023, first listings recorded only SIX sports protected the female category. In June 2026, we record that 37 of 72 sports (recognised by Sport England) exclude males from the female category from grassroots through to elite. 

 

It is of great concern that 11 sports apply two-tier policies that protect the female category at competition above a certain level but do not exclude males from categories at grassroots or ‘non-competitive’ competition. The law is quite clear. If a sport or fitness activity is described as Female or for women and / or girls, then it must ONLY include females. 

 

There are still 24 sports that have unlawful policies or no policies in place. There are no excuses left. All sports and fitness activities must be fair and safe for females. 

​

If your sport is listed as UNLAWFUL below, please contact the CEO / Chair and ask why they are delaying implementing fair and safe sport. If you need advice, contact sports@womensrights.network