Snooker’s governing body has introduced new rules stating that only players born biologically female can compete in women’s events, becoming the latest sports organisation to bar trans athletes from that category.
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) has updated its eligibility policy, according to a report first published by The Telegraph.
The change comes a year after a controversial Supreme Court ruling, which found that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. Critics have described the decision as trans-exclusionary.
The WPBSA also addressed the update in a public post, saying: “Our position has always been that the policy would be subject to immediate review should there be future ratified research findings or changes in guidance from appropriate sources.
“These cases and the studies relied upon as evidence have changed the landscape, leading to the review.
“The main change from the previous policy is that the WPBSA considers snooker to be a ‘gender-affected activity’ for the purposes of Section 195 The Equality Act 2010 and that only biological female players may compete in women’s tournaments governed by the WPBSA,” the post also outlines.
The organisation added: “The WPBSA is an inclusive organisation, and all players – irrespective of their biological sex, legal sex and/or gender identity – may compete in open tournaments.”
Under the revised rules, all players remain eligible for Open Tournaments. However, “only biological female players may compete in women’s tournaments”.
‘The WPBSA considers snooker to be a ‘gender-affected activity’
The policy also sets out updated guidance for trans men. It states that “A trans man player who does not use testosterone as part of male gender-affirming treatment” is permitted to compete in open and/or women’s tournaments.
Twelve-time world snooker champion Reanne Evans has criticised the WPBSA over what she says was a lack of communication around the decision.
“So women snooker players (of all levels) and their teams have been asking if a decision has been made with no reply,” she posted.
“Players have quit/stopped entering events because of no ruling I was sent this tonight and no one knew about it. Why no announcement /email to let players know.”
The WPBSA said the decision followed the case involving trans pool player Harriet Haynes and the English Blackball Pool Federation (EBPF). It also said it had “conducted a thorough review of its Trans and Gender Diverse Policy”.
Haynes lost her discrimination case against the EBPF after being barred from its women’s competitions. The judge ruled that exclusion was the only “reasonable” way to ensure “fair competition”.
Her lawyer, Matt Champ, argued that the EBPF’s decision was “wrong, outside the parameters of the Equality Act and completely unevidenced”.
Haynes has also said she was subjected to “vile” and “horrific” abuse online, which intensified after Lynne Pinches refused to play against her in the Women’s Champion of Champions tournament.
