British pool champion Harriet Haynes has lost her landmark discrimination case against the English Blackball Pool Federation (EBPF), following her exclusion from competing in the women’s division due to being transgender.
Haynes was banned from participating in EBPF women’s competitions in 2023, with the federation stating she was still welcome in the open category to ensure “equality and fairness for all”.
However, Haynes argued that the decision constituted direct discrimination based on her gender reassignment, a protected characteristic under the UK’s Equality Act 2010. She also claimed the ban violated the European Convention on Human Rights, particularly her right to private and family life.
Judge Rules Pool Is “Gender-Affected”
The EBPF maintained that cue sports are gender-affected due to physical advantages associated with male puberty, such as higher break speeds, wider hand spans, and longer reach — claims which Haynes and her legal team firmly denied.
Despite expert testimony from Haynes’ team arguing she had no physical advantage, the judge ruled in favour of the EBPF. The court concluded that pool qualifies as a “gender-affected activity”, and that the exclusion of trans women from the female category was justified to ensure fair competition.
The EBPF reaffirmed its stance following the ruling, reiterating that transgender players remain welcome in the ‘open’ category, which includes all genders.
“I Am a Woman and I Have No Advantage”
Speaking out during the trial, Haynes questioned the need for a separate category:
“I am a woman and I have no advantage, so why should I have to play in a category that is going to cast a spotlight on to me and the fact that I have transitioned?”
She also expressed concerns about being the only female player in the open category:
“I would feel incredibly embarrassed to be the only woman there,” she told The Independent in 2024. “The evidence from our expert witnesses shows I have no advantage. They’ve shown that pool isn’t a gender-affected sport.”
Online Abuse and Refusal to Play
Haynes came under intense scrutiny last year when Lynn Pinches, her opponent in the Women’s Champion of Champions final, refused to play against her, conceding the match instead. Haynes described the wave of “horrific” online abuse that followed as deeply distressing.
Her legal representative, Matt Champ, said they are currently “reflecting on the judgment” and are considering a possible appeal.
A Wider Shift in UK Policy
The ruling aligns with broader policy changes in the UK, following a Supreme Court decision stating that the legal definition of a woman is limited to biological sex. Since then, organisations including the Football Association have adopted policies excluding trans women from female categories, and UK police have updated search procedures to align with “biological gender”.
In the U.S., a February 2025 Executive Order has similarly restricted transgender participation in sports. Schools and universities that do not comply risk losing federal funding.
