Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies is threatening Parkrun and nine other sports bodies with legal action over their transgender policies, according to The Telegraph. Davies, a Conservative peer, is calling for Parkrun, as well as the Welsh and Irish Football Associations, to ban biologically male athletes from participating in women's categories. The Telegraph reports that Davies and Tracy Edwards MBE have co-signed letters from the Women's Sports Union and ADF International. The letters state that any governing body permitting biological males to compete in the female category contravenes the Equality Act 2010 as interpreted by the Supreme Court, and that if 'active steps' are not taken, further steps could include legal action.
Parkrun does not divide runners into male and female categories for competition. Runners can voluntarily select a gender identity for data recording purposes. Parkrun is generally seen as recreational and not a competition against others. Parkrun has previously explained its gender policy as categorising people based on gender rather than sex.
Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that the definition of a woman is based on biological sex in a landmark judgement. Organisations such as the English Football Association and the Rugby Football Union have already cracked down by banning transgender competitors. Other organisations targeted by Davies and Edwards include British Gymnastics, Swim England, and the Royal Yachting Association. It is not yet known which specific nine sports bodies are being threatened, or whether any have responded to the letters.