Latest news with #UltimatePoolWomen'sProSeries
Fox News
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
UK pool organization scraps trans-athlete policy following court decision, championship controversy
Earlier this month, a women's pool tournament championship in the United Kingdom featured two transgender athletes who defeated their female competition. Harriet Haynes and Lucy Smith went toe-to-toe in the Ultimate Pool Women's Pro Series Event 2 at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan. Both competitors defeated four female opponents each to get to the championship bout. But weeks after the event, the organization has barred biological males from competing against women. Ultimate Pool's policies now state, "With effect from 23rd April 2025 trans women will not be eligible to participate in the women's series nor will trans women be eligible to be selected for international events in the female category." The organization said that it commissioned an "experts report" to determine if pool is a "gender affected sport" in which biological males could have competitive advantages. "The clear conclusion of the biological and cue sports expert who jointly authored the report was that eightball pool was a gender affected sport and that in cue sports female players have unique disadvantages compared to male players and that transgender women retain male advantages," Ultimate Pool said. According to Ultimate Pool Group, Smith won 85 of 113 matches and 62% of 848 frames dating back to 2021 before entering the final. Haynes owned a .750 winning percentage in 241 lifetime matches and won 61% of the frames before taking on Smith. The two players wound up facing each other in the semifinals of the U.K. Mini Series pool championships in October. Haynes won that matchup but lost the championship to a biological woman. In August 2023, the World Eightball Pool Federation (WEPF) announced it was updating its guidelines to only allow those who were "born female" to play the sport. "We understand that this decision may prompt questions and discussions within our sport. We want to emphasize that our commitment to upholding the values of sportsmanship, inclusivity, and adherence to regulatory standards remains unwavering," the WEPF said at the time. "Our ultimate goal is to ensure the continued growth and development of the sport we all love, while maintaining a harmonious balance between inclusivity and the integrity of competition. We recognize the importance of fostering an environment where everyone can participate and thrive, and we remain dedicated to upholding these principles to the best of our ability." But in October that year, the WEPF reversed that protection. It allowed transgender competitors under the condition that they identified as female for a minimum of four years and submitted proof of lowered testosterone levels. However, Ultimate Pool also said that their decision came as the U.K. Supreme Court defined the word "woman" under its biological meaning, rather than gender ideology. "In this judgment the Supreme Court ruled that a Gender Recognition Certificate does not change a person's legal sex for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010," the new Ultimate Pool guidelines say. "The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner has confirmed that the ruling has brought clarity and that trans women cannot take part in women's sport and that the EHRC would pursue organisations which do not update their policies. UPG welcomes the clarity which this judgment brings." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Telegraph
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Transgender women now banned from pool's female category
Transgender women have been banned from the Ultimate Pool Group's female category following the Supreme Court's ruling on single-sex spaces. The move comes a week after the UK's highest court determined that sex was binary and just over a fortnight after the final of the Ultimate Pool Women's Pro Series Event 2 at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan was contested by two biological males. That match between Harriet Haynes and Lucy Smith witnessed furious protests amid what had also been legal proceedings brought by female-born players over UPG's transgender policy. The latter prompted UPG to commission a report into whether eight-ball pool was a gender-affected sport as defined by the Equality Act, the outcome of which has also played a part in it becoming the second professional UK pool organisation to ban trans women from its female category. The English Blackball Pool Federation became the first in 2023, only for Haynes to take it to court earlier this month. A judgment on Haynes's lawsuit is pending but is also expected to be affected by the Supreme Court ruling. UPG said in a statement: 'UPG today have amended our eligibility rules for the Women's Series (and all women's competitions held under UPG). With effect from 23rd April 2025, entry and participation in Ultimate Pool women's events are open only to biologically born women. 'We respect that some people within the pool community may find the changes challenging. As an organisation, we are committed to being empathetic to all members of our community and we expect all members of our community to reflect this.' Is eight-ball pool a gender-affected sport? The rationale behind the change was explained in an update to its terms and conditions on its website. It read: 'Since its inception UPG has been caught in a vacuum of uncertainty surrounding the issue of eligibility to participate in its women's series. Two recent developments have now made the position clear. 'UPG obtained an expert's report upon the question: 'Was eight-ball pool a gender-affected sport as defined by the Equality Act 2010?' 'Crucially this report was commissioned to reach a conclusion not only on the question of whether there were biological differences between women born as women and transgender women recognised as women by way of a Gender Recognition Certificate, but also whether any biological differences meant that transgender women had an advantage in the specific sport of eight-ball pool. 'The clear conclusion of the biological and cue-sports expert who jointly authored the report was that eight-ball pool was a gender-affected sport and that in cue sports female players have unique disadvantages compared to male players and that transgender women retain male advantages. 'Separately, the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers was handed down on 16 April 2025. In this judgment the Supreme Court ruled that a Gender Recognition Certificate does not change a person's legal sex for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010. 'The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner has confirmed that the ruling has brought clarity and that trans women cannot take part in women's sport and that the EHRC would pursue organisations which do not update their policies. UPG welcomes the clarity which this judgment brings.' 'Brave few stood up to protect women in sport' The World Eightball Pool Federation has also been facing legal proceedings over its refusal to ban trans women from female competitions. Fiona McAnena, director of advocacy at Sex Matters, said: 'Yet again it was a few brave women who were forced to step up and take legal action to protect the female category for all women in sport. This should never have had to happen. 'So many governing bodies have acted inexcusably, failing to provide sport that is truly inclusive of women and girls. The only way to give women the same fair competition as men get is to exclude all males from women's competitions, however those men identify. 'This is a tipping point. If cue sports like pool must exclude everyone male from women's tournaments – and legally that is what they have to do – then every other sport that has a female category must do this too. Football, cricket, lacrosse and all the other holdouts must now take action. Sportswomen have been shamefully cheated for too long.'
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Transgender women now banned from pool's female category
Transgender women have been banned from the Ultimate Pool Group's female category following the Supreme Court's ruling on single-sex spaces. The move comes a week after the UK's highest court determined that sex was binary and just over a fortnight after the final of the Ultimate Pool Women's Pro Series Event 2 at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan was contested by two biological males. That match between Harriet Haynes and Lucy Smith witnessed furious protests amid what had also been legal proceedings brought by female-born players over UPG's transgender policy. The latter prompted UPG to commission a report into whether eight-ball pool was a gender-affected sport as defined by the Equality Act, the outcome of which has also played a part in it becoming the second professional UK pool organisation to ban trans women from its female category. The English Blackball Pool Federation became the first in 2023, only for Haynes to take it to court earlier this month. A judgment on Haynes's lawsuit is pending but is also expected to be affected by the Supreme Court ruling. UPG said in a statement: 'UPG today have amended our eligibility rules for the Women's Series (and all women's competitions held under UPG). With effect from 23rd April 2025, entry and participation in Ultimate Pool women's events are open only to biologically born women. 'We respect that some people within the pool community may find the changes challenging. As an organisation, we are committed to being empathetic to all members of our community and we expect all members of our community to reflect this.' The rationale behind the change was explained in an update to its terms and conditions on its website. It read: 'Since its inception UPG has been caught in a vacuum of uncertainty surrounding the issue of eligibility to participate in its women's series. Two recent developments have now made the position clear. 'UPG obtained an expert's report upon the question: 'Was eight-ball pool a gender-affected sport as defined by the Equality Act 2010?' 'Crucially this report was commissioned to reach a conclusion not only on the question of whether there were biological differences between women born as women and transgender women recognised as women by way of a Gender Recognition Certificate, but also whether any biological differences meant that transgender women had an advantage in the specific sport of eight-ball pool. 'The clear conclusion of the biological and cue-sports expert who jointly authored the report was that eight-ball pool was a gender-affected sport and that in cue sports female players have unique disadvantages compared to male players and that transgender women retain male advantages. 'Separately, the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers was handed down on 16 April 2025. In this judgment the Supreme Court ruled that a Gender Recognition Certificate does not change a person's legal sex for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010. 'The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner has confirmed that the ruling has brought clarity and that trans women cannot take part in women's sport and that the EHRC would pursue organisations which do not update their policies. UPG welcomes the clarity which this judgment brings.' The World Eightball Pool Federation has also been facing legal proceedings over its refusal to ban trans women from female competitions. Fiona McAnena, director of advocacy at Sex Matters, said: 'Yet again it was a few brave women who were forced to step up and take legal action to protect the female category for all women in sport. This should never have had to happen. 'So many governing bodies have acted inexcusably, failing to provide sport that is truly inclusive of women and girls. The only way to give women the same fair competition as men get is to exclude all males from women's competitions, however those men identify. 'This is a tipping point. If cue sports like pool must exclude everyone male from women's tournaments – and legally that is what they have to do – then every other sport that has a female category must do this too. Football, cricket, lacrosse and all the other holdouts must now take action. Sportswomen have been shamefully cheated for too long.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Transgender pool player Harriet Haynes suing governing body over ban
The transgender pool champion at the centre of angry protests over her playing in women's events is suing one of her sport's governing bodies for banning her from female-only competitions. Harriet Haynes, who on Sunday won a professional women's tournament after beating another trans player in the final, is in court this week after taking legal action against the English Blackball Pool Federation (EBPF). It follows an August 2023 change to the EBPF's eligibility criteria to allow only those born female to play on its ladies' tour and county tournaments, a move Haynes says amounted to discrimination that had caused her a 'loss of opportunity' and 'injured feelings'. The rule change left Haynes, who first competed in an EBPF event as a woman in 2015, unable to play for the Kent ladies' team and she is seeking damages at Canterbury County Court. What is thought to be the first lawsuit of its kind brought by a trans athlete in the UK could prove a landmark case in pool and beyond, over rules designed to stop those born male taking part in female-only competitions. A hearing began on Monday, the day after Haynes and Lucy Smith faced off in the Ultimate Pool Women's Pro Series Event 2 at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan on Sunday. Their match drew protests from demonstrators who shouted 'He's a man and we stand with Lynne Pinches' and held up banners saying 'Save women's sport' and 'He's a man' as Haynes walked past. Pinches is the player who forfeited a 2023 final in protest at the participation of Haynes and is part of a separate legal action against the Ultimate Pool Group and World Eightball Pool Federation over their refusal to ban trans women from their own events. Credit: X / @JeanHatchet The EBPF, meanwhile, argues those born male have, on average, a higher break speed than female-born players. It also claims that male-born players benefit from greater hand span, stronger fingers and longer limbs, making it easier for them to play particular shots. The governing body is represented at this week's court hearing by Sarah Crowther KC, who told the proceedings on Monday that female-born players were, on average, at a disadvantage compared to those born male when it came to physical strength, stamina or physique. She said: 'Therefore, it is commonplace for competitors to be categorised. All categories are trying to do the same thing – to group competitors by their bodily characteristics. 'The reality is that all sports are predominately male sports and there are very few where it can be said there is no sex-based advantage. Women have to fight to seek inclusion. 'If girls and women do not have their own teams, they will lack the development pathway into sports and will give up. 'All cue sports have protected women's categories because the physique of male players means that male players have an advantage over female players.' Haynes told the court that 'my success in pool in general is down to my efforts, whether in the women's section or open section' and that 'coaching helped me progress'. She also said that 'a big part of my life was playing county ladies' blackball pool'. Cross-examining Haynes, Crowther asked if she would accept the proposition that, on average, males had an advantage over females. Haynes responded that she 'wouldn't know enough about the subject', adding: 'I'm not an expert on it.' Crowther also cited the fact that Haynes was able to play on the EBPF's Open Tour, which was previously known as its men's tour but was rebranded in light of trans women being banned from female-only events. Haynes's barrister, Robin White, told the court the extent to which sports were gender-affected was on a sliding scale, saying: 'It would be easy to make the case that tennis is gender-affected, given that men are able to serve so much faster than women. 'On the other end of the spectrum is chess. I'm prepared to accept that pool is close to the boundary.' Citing the Equality Act 2010, White said: 'A 'gender-affected activity' is a sport, game or other competitive activity where the physical strength, stamina or physique of average persons of one sex would put them at a disadvantage compared to average persons of the other sex.' Haynes submitted expert evidence to support her case, including from an American professor who argues that as long as a player could break above a certain speed – something achievable by both sexes – there was no inherent advantage gained by a higher cue velocity. The case continues. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The Independent
07-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Transgender pool player fights ban from women's events in court
A transgender pool player who is banned from playing in some women's events in England has defended her progress in the sport, saying it is down to her practice and coaching, just a day after facing protesters at a pool final. Professional pool player Harriet Haynes is taking legal action against the English Blackball Pool Federation (EBPF) over their ban of transgender women in the ladies' county tournaments. Fresh from her win in the Ultimate Pool Women's Pro Series Event 2 on Sunday, Ms Haynes told Canterbury county court on Monday that the sport is not affected by difference in gender. Ms Haynes is able to play in some tournaments in the UK and internationally, but is unable to play in ladies' events run by the EBPF. The EBPF restricted their ladies' events to people who were born female in August 2023, which disqualified Ms Haynes from competing in eight-ball games. The EBPF organised county competitions around the country, which are broken up into categories for women and men, as well as for various age groups. The EBPF said that they restrict their events to non-professional players, although Ms Haynes argued that they have let professional players compete in their tournaments in the past. Sarah Crowther KC, for the EBPF, told the court that pool was a gender-affected sport, with the average male player having an advantage over female players. The week-long case began after a professional women's pool tournament, which Ms Haynes won on Sunday, was hit by protests. The final of the Ultimate Pool Women's Pro Series Event 2 in Wigan was contested by two transgender players, Ms Haynes and Lucy Smith. Protesters inside the venue at Robin Park Leisure Centre held up banners saying 'Save women's sport' and 'He's a man' as Ms Haynes walked past. On Monday, Ms Haynes told Canterbury county court that 'my success in pool in general is down to my efforts, whether in the women's section or open section'. She said that 'I would say that coaching helped me progress'. She said the 'a big part of my life was playing county ladies' blackball pool', something she now cannot do. Ms Haynes said she was offered the captaincy of the Kent ladies' team but could not take it up because of the EBPF ban. Ms Crowther, cross-examining Ms Haynes, said: 'You point to various features of your game that you say are your strengths, you say it's down to practice and technique'. Ms Haynes responded: 'I would say practice definitely, yes'. When asked if she would accept the proposition that on average males have an advantage over females, Ms Haynes responded that she 'wouldn't know enough about the subject', adding: 'I'm not an expert on it'. Ms Haynes has submitted expert evidence that argues that transgender women do not have an advantage over cis-women when playing pool. In an expert report submitted as part of her case, an MIT professor argues that as long as the player can break above a certain speed, which is achievable to both sexes, there is no inherent advantage gained by a higher cue velocity. Sarah Crowther KC, for the defendant, argued that physical strength, stamina or physique did cause a disadvantage for female-born competitors playing pool when competing against male-born players. She said that every competitor in sport 'must have a fair chance of success and that means that it is absolutely common place for personal characteristics of competitors to be categorised'. She argued that the history of competitive sport 'has overwhelmingly favoured the participation of men', adding: 'Most sports are designed primarily to suit men'. She claimed that most sports are 'designed to test the abilities and the capacities of the male body' and there were 'very few sports that test female bodily characteristics, such as flexibility or balance'. Ms Crowther argued that 'single sex sports are essential to women and girls... the presence of male-born sports people changes the way that girls and women participate.' She told the court that 'if girls and women don't have their own category, they will lack a development pathway in sport… and will give up.' She continued: 'Pool as a sport has always had a separate category for women, and every man who participates in that category will take the place of a woman'. Barrister Robin White, for Ms Haynes, said that many sports or competitive past times were gender-affected, such as tennis, and others are not gender-affected, such as chess. 'Somewhere in between there must be sports that are closer to the boundary or at either side of the boundary. In cue sports, pool is close to the boundary,' she said. Ms White told the court that there would be a different consideration made for snooker or pool on a different sized table, but that the judge was being asked to consider eight-ball pool. Ms White said the case centred on 'fairness' and how that could be achieved within the sport. She said that the decision made by the EBPF to announce a ban was done in an 'appalling' manner, which failed to consult with membership or those affected. She said that a later claim by the EBPF that Ms Haynes could not play in the tournaments because of her professional status 'had been used as a cover or an excuse for the discrimination that has occurred'.
