Archery GB bans trans women from female competitions

Trans women have been banned from competing in most women’s archery competitions in the UK.

PinkNews has seen updated guidance from Archery GB, the sport’s UK governing body. It follows the UK Supreme Court’s ruling that the legal definition of the protected characteristic of “sex” in the 2010 Equality Act referred to “biological sex” only, thus excluding trans people.

Dated July 2025, it says: “Archery is a gender-affected sport of a competitive nature where the physical strength, stamina or physique of average persons of one sex could put them at a disadvantage compared to average persons of the other sex, as competitors at an archery competition.”

The guidance covers any event governed by Archery GB, which includes club tournaments, national events and those where participants would be competing for a UK or world record, and states that only those assigned female at birth can compete in women’s competitions.

It does not apply to events and competitions not governed by Archery GB, international events and those governed by World Archery, World Archery Europe or the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee.

“Should there be any mixed category, which combines male and female archers, then for the avoidance of doubt, the same requirements apply,” the new regulations go on to say. There will also be open categories for all archers.

When it comes to disputes, the updated guidance says: “If the eligibility of an archer in a particular competition is questioned, the archer should be allowed, or continue to be allowed, to participate.” The matter will be referred to officials responsible for the event who can determine any course of action.

If an issue can’t be resolved, then a tournament could be stopped altogether but Archery GB only recommend this if “concerns about the health and welfare of an archer may put themselves or others at risk of injury”.

The guidance goes on to say: “Archery GB may then undertake a sensitive and confidential review of their circumstances, and feedback to tournament organisers any relevant and non-sensitive information.”

The policy has been signed off by the chairman of the board of Archery GB, Mark Briegal. It has apparently been reviewed by director of sport development Arran Coggan.

Earlier Archery GB guidance, published in 2017, generally allowed people to take part in categories that matched their gender identity.

“It is Archery GB’s firm view that gender identity should not be a barrier to participation in archery,” the earlier guidance stated.

“An individual may be eligible for participation in their affirmed gender. This will be subject to the approval of Archery GB on a case-by-case basis” taking into consideration the safety of the applicant and fellow archers – which, the organisation recognised, was “unlikely to be relevant for archery” – as well as “the need to ensure fair play and fair competition”, the rules said.

“When considering a trans archer’s application, Archery GB will make a presumption that an individual’s application will be approved if he or she is able to satisfy hormone-based requirements…”

Trans men had to provide hormone therapy results showing testosterone levels within natal male range and that this was the case “for an appropriate length of time so as to minimise any potential advantage”.

Trans women had to have undergone hormone therapy or gonadectomy with testosterone levels within natal female range “for an appropriate length of time so as to minimise any potential advantage”.

If hormone treatment ceased, Archery GB could have withdrawn a trans archer’s clearance to compete.

“If a trans person has not undergone or is not undergoing hormone therapy or gonadectomy, Archery GB would have considered their application “taking into account the requirements about safety and fairness”, the regulations added.

Trans athletes had to permit their GP and/or consultant to disclose relevant medical information to Archery GB and to permit the governing body’s membership services manager to liaise with that doctor as necessary.

England Hockey has enacted a similar ban as have the UK governing bodies for swimming, football and cricket.

In a statement to PinkNews a spokesperson for Archery GB said: “Archery is an inclusive sport and archery clubs provide welcoming environments to thousands of archers across the UK. Following the Supreme Court ruling, we have updated our transgender policy to comply with the law. We have shared the updated policy with transgender athletes first as they are most directly affected by this update.

“The policy will be shared with our wider membership including clubs and tournament organisers at the end of July. We will also publish FAQs and organise webinars to help our volunteers deliver archery and support transgender athletes to continue to participate.”

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