Former Olympian Mara Yamauchi has called on Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, to take a stronger stance in ensuring that males do not compete in female sports categories. Yamauchi emphasized the need for fair and safe sports for women and girls, criticizing Nandy’s reluctance to intervene directly.
Key Takeaways
- Mara Yamauchi criticizes Lisa Nandy for not taking a firm stance on males competing in female sports categories.
- Yamauchi calls for the Culture Secretary to pressure governing bodies to ensure fair and safe sports for females.
- The former Olympian highlights the importance of single-sex categories in sex-affected sports.
Yamauchi’s Critique of Nandy’s Stance
Speaking on GB News, Mara Yamauchi expressed her disappointment with Lisa Nandy’s approach to the issue. While Nandy acknowledged that biology matters, she left the decision to national governing bodies. Yamauchi argued that this approach has proven ineffective, as many sports still allow males to compete in female categories.
The Importance of Fair and Safe Sports
Yamauchi stressed that fair and safe sports for women and girls cannot coexist with males in female categories. She pointed out that nearly three years have passed since the UK sports councils issued a report stating this fact, yet most sports in the UK have not made the necessary changes.
The Need for Leadership and Pressure
Yamauchi called for leadership and pressure from Nandy to ensure that governing bodies restore fair and safe sports for females. She emphasized that if a sport is sex-affected, there must be separate male and female categories. Mixed-sex categories can exist, but only for those who choose to participate in them.
The Impact on All Levels of Sport
The former Olympian highlighted that this issue affects all levels of sport, from elite to grassroots. Women and girls at all levels deserve fair and safe sports. Yamauchi also pointed out instances of males deliberately underperforming in female categories, which she described as a corruption of what sport is supposed to be.
Legal Framework
Yamauchi noted that the Equality Act explicitly permits single-sex sports, making it lawful to exclude all males from female categories. She urged Nandy to use this legal framework to advocate for fair and safe sports for women and girls.
