Friday, April 25, 2025 - Transgender women have been banned from the female category of Ultimate Pool Group (UPG) after last week's landmark UK Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological s£x.
The professional body for 8-ball pool said it has amended
its eligibility rules so that participation in its women's events "are
open only to biologically born women".
The decision comes after protests were held at the final of
the Ultimate Pool Women's Pro Series Event earlier this month, which was
competed between Harriet Haynes and Lucy Smith - two transgender women.
UPG said "recent developments have now made the
position clear", and that it "welcomes the clarity" brought by
the Supreme Court judgment.
It also said that a report it commissioned had concluded
that 8-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".
The body said that an open category "will continue to
be open to all regardless of s£x".
"We respect that some people within the pool community
may find the changes challenging" it added.
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