Trans Women to Be Barred from Women’s Archery Competitions in the UK Following New Archery GB Policy

On July 16, 2025, Archery GB, the leading authority for archery in the United Kingdom, released an updated policy that will prohibit transgender women from competing in the women’s category at most archery events it governs. The revised guidance specifies that only individuals assigned female at birth are eligible to participate in women’s competitions organized or sanctioned by Archery GB, including local club tournaments and national events where records can be set or broken .

The new rules state: “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.” This rationale echoes policies recently adopted by other UK sporting bodies in response to legal and political pressures .

The policy applies to all events under the jurisdiction of Archery GB, including those at the club and national level. However, it does not extend to competitions not governed by Archery GB, nor does it apply to international events overseen by bodies such as World Archery, World Archery Europe, the International Olympic Committee, or the International Paralympic Committee. Events with mixed categories, which combine male and female archers, are also subject to the same eligibility requirements, but open categories will be available for all archers regardless of gender identity .

To address potential disputes, the updated guidance outlines that if an archer’s eligibility is questioned, the individual may continue participating while the matter is referred to event officials for a decision .

The announcement comes in the wake of the UK Supreme Court’s April 2025 decision affirming that the term ‘woman’ in the Equality Act refers exclusively to individuals assigned female at birth. This landmark ruling has prompted a wave of policy changes across British sports, with governing bodies such as the Football Association (FA), the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), British Rowing, and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) instituting similar bans on transgender women in female categories . The government has welcomed these measures, claiming they bring “clarity and confidence” to women’s sports .

Advocates of these policies, including some former athletes and campaign groups, argue that maintaining female-only categories upholds fairness and competitive integrity. Sharron Davies, a former Olympic swimmer, has voiced support for such bans and warned that sports organizations could face legal action if they do not comply with the new legal framework .

The policy has sparked concern and dismay among LGBTQ+ advocates, who argue that it further marginalizes transgender athletes and restricts their access to sporting opportunities. Critics point to the already limited participation of transgender people in the UK sports landscape—estimated at just 0.1% of the population—and question where transgender athletes can now compete safely and inclusively .

While some sporting bodies have introduced “open” or “mixed” categories to accommodate all athletes, many in the community feel these alternatives do not offer the same recognition or platform as women’s competitions. The new guidance from Archery GB is seen by some as part of a broader rollback of trans inclusion in British sport, following similar moves in rowing, athletics, cycling, swimming, and football .

International governing bodies, such as World Archery and the International Olympic Committee, have their own eligibility criteria and have not yet adopted the same restrictions as those now in place in the UK. This disparity means that transgender athletes may still be eligible to compete internationally, even if they are excluded from most domestic competitions.