Ultimate Pool Group (UPG), the professional body for 8-ball pool, has become the first sports body to amend its rules – banning trans women from its female category – in the wake of the UK Supreme Court’s ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex.
While its open category “will continue to be open to all regardless of sex”, UPG has amended eligibility rules so that participation in its women’s events “are open only to biologically born women”.
UPG said that a report it commissioned had concluded that 8-ball pool “was a gender affected sport and that in cue sports female players have unique disadvantages compared to male players and that transgender women retain male advantages”.
The body said that an open category “will continue to be open to all regardless of sex”.
Trans player Harriet Haynes has argued trans players have competed in female categories for 20 years, and that there was no categoric evidence they have an advantage in cue sports.
She has taken legal action against the English Blackball Pool Federation (EBPF), which has also banned transgender women competing in female categories.
“The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner has confirmed that the ruling has brought clarity and that trans women cannot take part in women’s sport and that the EHRC would pursue organisations which do not update their policies” it said.
“UPG welcomes the clarity which this judgment brings.”
It said the ruling – along with the findings of the “detailed and comprehensive experts report” it commissioned – meant “it is necessary for UPG to amend its eligibility policy for participation in the women’s series and international events”.
It added: “With effect from 23 April 2025 trans women will not be eligible to participate in the women’s series nor will trans women be eligible to be selected for international events in the female category.”
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