An England women’s sports team is refusing to compete at its upcoming world championships in protest at a trans athlete being included in their team.
The England Ladies angling side have vowed not to participate in November’s Shore Angling World Championship due to the inclusion of Becky Lee Birtwhistle Hodges in the squad.
Multiple members of the six-strong team said that they would not participate.
It comes just months after the team’s captain, Heather Lindfield, quit over the matter in June.
She had warned her team was “humiliated” in the 2018 world championships when they won bronze with Hodges part of the squad.
“It wasn’t a nice situation, mainly because all the other countries wouldn’t speak to us,” she explained to the Daily Mail.
“The managers wouldn’t speak to our manager. They were all against us.
“When we went up to collect our medal, nobody clapped and people walked out.
“Although Becky Lee would be an asset to my team, it’s unfair on everyone else. And if you win in a situation like that, you can’t enjoy the victory, because it feels like you’ve cheated.
“It’s a shame because the other girls would have applied for the World Championships if Becky Lee hadn’t been involved.”
Guidelines issued by the Angling Trust, which oversees the sport in the UK, set out that participants should be recognised based on the gender of their passport or gender recognition certificate.
Chief executive, Jamie Cook said: “The fact is that the vast majority of competitive angling in this country is in ‘open’ competitions, where male, female and transgender anglers have the opportunity to fish head-to-head against each other in the same contest.
“That also goes for the vast majority of Angling Trust national championships.”
A review of the body’s diversity and equality policies are currently taking place and is expected to be made public next year.
“I am confident that whatever the outcome of our review, competitive angling opportunities will continue to exist and the sport will remain inclusive for all, regardless of age, race, gender or sexual orientation,” Cook added.
The Shore Angling World Championship are set to go ahead next month without England.
Sports bodies have been grappling for months with how to handle the issue of transgender athletes. Earlier this month is was reported that some competitors who have changes gender have continued to compete in female only races in contrast to guidance from UK Athletics.
