Olympic swimming star Sharron Davies has sharply criticised the organisers of the London Marathon for allowing transgender women to compete in the female category, accusing them of being “anti-women” and acting “against the law” following a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
Davies, who has long campaigned for fairness and the protection of women’s sport, said she was “very disappointed” after London Marathon officials permitted trans women to run in today’s race alongside biological females, despite last week’s definitive ruling on the definition of “woman” under the Equality Act 2010.
The Supreme Court judgment, delivered over the Easter period, clarified that the protected characteristic of “woman” in the Equality Act refers specifically to biological women. Following this, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) issued updated interim guidance reinforcing that trans women should not be permitted to access female-only spaces, including sports categories, workplaces, and public facilities.
Despite this clear legal direction, the London Marathon has continued to allow transgender participants to compete in the mass participation women’s category. Race organisers stated that the marathon is a “personal challenge” rather than a competitive race between participants, a justification that has sparked further outrage among women’s rights campaigners.
Davies, who won an Olympic silver medal at the 1980 Moscow Games and has long fought against unfairness in sport, said:
“I’m very disappointed that yet again, against the law, the London Marathon has prioritised males over females in the women’s category.
At every ability and level, women and girls deserve fair and safe sport. I hope the London Marathon are held to account for their anti-women stance.”
The Mail on Sunday revealed that while trans women have been excluded from the elite women’s race — which is subject to strict competition rules — they are permitted to enter the mass participation race under the female category, leading campaigners to describe the policy as creating a “two-tier” system within the event.
On Saturday night, London Marathon chief executive Hugh Brasher defended the decision, reiterating that the mass participation element of the event is not officially a race.
He said: “The mass participation event at the London Marathon is not a race where participants compete against each other. It is a personal challenge.”
However, critics argue that allowing trans women to be classified alongside biological women, and to have their times recorded together, undermines the principle of fairness and disregards the recent legal clarification.
Women’s rights groups also voiced concern that such decisions contribute to the erosion of protected spaces and opportunities specifically intended for women, particularly in sports where biological differences can provide significant advantages.
The EHRC guidance issued on Friday was clear that while trans individuals must be treated with dignity and respect, services and spaces reserved for biological women are legally protected and should be maintained where appropriate. The guidance also acknowledged the need for facilities for trans individuals to avoid exclusion or hardship but firmly underlined the legal position on sex-based rights.
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The Supreme Court’s ruling, hailed as a pivotal moment by women’s rights advocates, has wide-ranging implications across multiple sectors, from education and sport to healthcare and public services.
The London Marathon’s decision to allow trans women into the female category has reignited the broader debate over fairness in sport and the balance between inclusivity and protecting female competition.
Thousands are taking part in today’s London Marathon, which remains one of the world’s largest and most iconic mass-participation sporting events. Nonetheless, controversy around the treatment of female categories is expected to continue long after the final runners cross the finish line.
Campaigners are now calling for further clarification from event organisers and for immediate adjustments to future participation policies to comply with the law and uphold fairness in women’s sport.
