Public Opinion

Whenever athletes or the general public are asked anonymously on their views about male inclusion in the female category, the overwhelming majority support a protected female category

The problem has been that most sport organisations have failed to consult their female membership in any meaningful way, refused to disclose their consultation process and / or refused to publish results of surveys.

Here is a summary of survey results:

Over 96% of the 60,000 members of the British public who voted, think biological males should not compete against biological females in sport - Sharron Davies Survey

More than 90% of professional female cyclists are against the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s races’ (McDonald, 2022) - Cycling Survey

@BBCSport published the results from their survey showing the overwhelming majority of female athletes want a protected female category “those uncomfortable on transgender participation in elite women's categories outnumbered those comfortable by 10 to one” - BBC Survey

British Rowing survey of members. More than 80% vote for female at birth category - Rowing Survey

87% of athletics volunteers who expressed a view said that males who have been through male puberty should not be allowed to compete in the female category (Sullivan and Armstrong Jan 2023) - Sullivan & Armstrong, 2023 survey

British Triathlon (2022) found over 80 percent of 3,167 members favoured a dedicated female category.

79% of cricket volunteers said males should not be allowed to compete in the female category in either amateur or professional cricket events - Link to SEEN in Sport survey of ECB cricket volunteers Nov 2024

74% of Britons oppose transgender athletes and transgender women in particular, taking part in sporting events for their new gender - YouGov Survey

FINA (now World Aquatics) (2022) found 84 percent of those surveyed thought eligibility for women’s events should be based on birth sex. - Survey

66% of girls want single sex sport, according to @YouthSportTrust research 2024 - Survey

Following an extensive RFU consultation, the RFU Council has voted in favour of updating its gender participation policy for rugby in England from the start of the 2022/23 season with 33 in favour, 26 against and 2 abstaining.

The RFU began a detailed review of its policy in Autumn 2020, this included a game wide survey receiving over 11,000 responses, extensive consultation with and listening to a wide range of independent experts as well as considering all available scientific evidence along with liaising with other sporting bodies.

International Public Opinion

(Devine, 2022; Shaw et al, 2024):

Devine, C. (2022) ‘Female Olympians’ Voices: Female Sport Categories and IOC Transgender Guidelines’, International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 57(3), pp. 335–361:

Shaw, A.L., Williams, A.G., Stebbings, G.K., Chollier, M., Harvey, A. and Heffernan, S.M. (2024). ‘The perspective of current and retired world class, elite and national athletes on the inclusion and eligibility of transgender athletes in elite sport’, Journal of Sports Sciences 42(5), pp. 381–391.

Another survey showing the overwhelming majority of the American public do not support transwomen (biological males) participating in the female category of sport

75% overall and nearly 64% of GenZ voted to protect the female category

Female Canadian Olympic athletes were asked their views on the inclusion of transgender athletes in elite sport (Divine 2022):

72% strongly disagreed with the statement “Transwomen (biological males) have a right to compete the female category of sport”

This project report is the background data to the SCEG Guidance for Transgender Inclusion in Sport.  Some heartbreaking quotes from the athletes interviewed on pages 12 and 13

Athletes too afraid to raise concerns, staff fearing for their jobs if they spoke up and females self excluding from sport altogether.

World Rugby (2020a) found a minority supported introducing the 2015 IOC guidelines let alone the 2021 IOC Framework.

A woman with long, straight, gray hair and blue eyes looking directly at the camera, making an 'X' shape with her hands, seated outdoors with trees and a wooden structure in the background.
A group of rowers in a boat on a calm body of water during sunset or sunrise
Swimmers in a pool competing in a synchronized swimming event, with an audience seated in the stands watching.
Women playing rugby on a field, with one woman holding the ball and others attempting to tackle her, in front of a crowd of spectators.
Women playing soccer on a green field with players in red and white uniforms.
Women cyclists racing in a group during a cycling event with spectators in the background.
A group of young female rugby players in red and black uniforms huddling together on a field with mountains and trees in the background.
Four Olympic swimmers, two men and two women, standing side by side on a swimming pool deck, celebrating and smiling; two of the athletes are holding a Union Jack flag behind them, with