Transgender women have been banned from the female category of Ultimate Pool Group (UPG) events following last week’s UK Supreme Court ruling.
The sport in the country has been mired in controversy over its transgender inclusion policies.
The professional body for 8-ball pool said it has amended its eligibility rules so that participation in its women’s events “are open only to biologically born women”.
The decision comes after protests were held at the final of the Ultimate Pool Women’s Pro Series Event earlier this month, which was competed between Harriet Haynes and Lucy Smith – two transgender women.
UPG said “recent developments have now made the position clear”, and that it “welcomes the clarity” brought by the Supreme Court judgment.
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It also 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”.
“We respect that some people within the pool community may find the changes challenging” it added.
“As an organisation, we are committed to being empathetic to all members of our community and we expect all members of our community to reflect this.”
Ultimate Pool Women’s Pro Series Event 2 at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan was contested by two biological males.
That match between Haynes and Smith witnessed protests amid what had also been legal proceedings brought by female-born players over UPG’s transgender policy.
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