A women’s boxing course in Bristol, England has been pulled by the King’s Trust after complaints over rules allowing “female identifying” participants. Instead of making the program only for women, the program was scrapped entirely.
The program was supposed to run for young women aged 16 to 25 who are neither working nor in school, but it got shut down after a parent raised concerns about biological males being allowed to join. It was set for late February before being quietly withdrawn.
The parent warned the policy could result in adult males boxing against teenage girls.
“Not only is it unfair on women and girls who want to take part and might miss out on participation because a man takes their place, it is also unsafe to allow biological males to box with/against girls and women and share their spaces including changing rooms and toilets,” the parent said, reports GB News.
A staff member responded: “In recognition of the decision of the Supreme Court, and the specific nature of the activity that this programme offers, we have taken the decision to withdraw it as an offer to young people.”
The charity, founded by King Charles in 1976, confirmed it is reviewing programmes following a 2025 Supreme Court ruling that defined sex in the Equality Act as biological.
The five-day course, titled “Get started with Boxing and Fitness for Women,” would have offered training and a qualification. It was backed by Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams.
Critics slammed the Trust's decision to cancel the program entirely rather than restrict it to just real women. Helen Joyce of Sex Matters called the situation “outrageous,” saying it “shouldn't have taken a Supreme Court judgment” to prevent biological males from being permitted “to punch women for sport.”
The program was supposed to run for young women aged 16 to 25 who are neither working nor in school, but it got shut down after a parent raised concerns about biological males being allowed to join. It was set for late February before being quietly withdrawn.
The parent warned the policy could result in adult males boxing against teenage girls.
“Not only is it unfair on women and girls who want to take part and might miss out on participation because a man takes their place, it is also unsafe to allow biological males to box with/against girls and women and share their spaces including changing rooms and toilets,” the parent said, reports GB News.
A staff member responded: “In recognition of the decision of the Supreme Court, and the specific nature of the activity that this programme offers, we have taken the decision to withdraw it as an offer to young people.”
The charity, founded by King Charles in 1976, confirmed it is reviewing programmes following a 2025 Supreme Court ruling that defined sex in the Equality Act as biological.
The five-day course, titled “Get started with Boxing and Fitness for Women,” would have offered training and a qualification. It was backed by Olympic gold medallist Nicola Adams.
Critics slammed the Trust's decision to cancel the program entirely rather than restrict it to just real women. Helen Joyce of Sex Matters called the situation “outrageous,” saying it “shouldn't have taken a Supreme Court judgment” to prevent biological males from being permitted “to punch women for sport.”
