Parkrun has been urged to scrap its policy allowing transgender women to compete in women's runs, following a Supreme Court ruling that defines women by biological sex. Women's rights groups argue the policy is now untenable and discriminates against biological females.
The call comes after a trans woman reportedly finished first in around 60 Parkrun events, once beating a former British Olympian. Critics say this has allowed trans women to 'smash' female records, with one record still held by Lauren Jeska, a trans woman jailed for attempting to murder a UK Athletics official.
Former Olympic marathon runner Mara Yamauchi highlighted the case of Siân Longthorpe, a trans athlete who set a women's 45-49 age group record at Porthcawl Parkrun. Yamauchi said the record may now be 'out of female hands forever'. Another Team GB marathon runner, Claire Hallissey, also finished behind a trans athlete at a Parkrun.
Fiona McAnena, director of campaign group Sex Matters, said: 'It's never been 'inclusive' to allow male runners to claim women's places and records. Now Parkrun has no excuse to continue to discriminate against women by letting men register as female.'
Parkrun currently allows participants to self-identify as male, female, non-binary or prefer not to say. A spokesman previously said it would not be 'appropriate or practical' to verify gender. UK Athletics has already banned trans women from female categories, citing fairness and safety concerns.
