Organisers of a licensed 10K race told runners they could register according to their gender identity rather than their sex – despite UK Athletics rules that state otherwise.
The Pride Run 10K, which takes place in Victoria Park, East London, on Saturday, is licensed by England Athletics and must comply with competition rules set by UK Athletics, the sport’s national governing body.
Since April 2023, athletes who have undergone male puberty have not been eligible to compete in the female category at licensed events.
However, guidance published on the FAQ section of the Pride Run 10k website stated that all participants could register with the “gender identity they identify with” and that no “checks” would be made.
A separate section said: “We prioritise self-identification and respect the confidentiality of all runners. We also acknowledge the existence of England Athletics’ position regarding trans women competing in the female category.”
The website also stated that if a “trans woman participant would prefer to not have their results shared with England Athletics” they could choose to have their results withdrawn – or contact race organisers after the race to arrange this.
The guidance, which was intended to apply “for the 2025 event onwards”, disappeared from the website last month after concerns were raised with the organisers and England Athletics.
Former British Olympic marathon runner Mara Yamauchi said: “Taken together, the wording appears to facilitate males competing in the female category and evidence of that being hidden from England Athletics.
“That is particularly concerning when this is an England Athletics-licensed race organised by members of an affiliated club.
“I’m glad to see this part of the guidance has now been deleted, but why were the organisers actively seeking to undermine UKA rules and fairness for females?”
An email seen by [Un]Captured from the England Athletics safeguarding lead stated that the sporting body had “met with the organisers and the issues raised have been resolved.”
The Pride Run 10k website describes the event as a not-for-profit race organised each year by volunteers from London Frontrunners – which describes itself as “an inclusive running and triathlon club for lesbians, gay and bisexual men and women, trans people and our allies”.
More than 1,000 runners took part in the 2025 Pride Run. Published results show that at least two male members of London Frontrunners were recorded in the female category.
One was Susie O’Connor, a male runner who identifies as a woman. O’Connor finished in 1hr 5min 49sec and was recorded as the 169th female finisher out of 252. He was also placed sixth out of ten runners in the women’s 60-plus category.
Emails seen by [Un]Captured show that O’Connor had previously been disqualified from the female category at the Veterans AC cross-country championships, following complaints about his eligibility.
Despite that earlier disqualification, O’Connor was subsequently recorded as female at the 2025 Pride Run.
Another London Frontrunners member, Jill Olsen, who is also male and identifies as a woman, finished the Pride Run in 1hr 9min 35sec.
Olsen was recorded as the 194th female finisher out of 252 and placed 20th out of 34 runners in the women’s 50–59 category.
Olsen has also been recorded in the female category at several other races, including the 2024 London Marathon, the 2025 Big Half and licensed events in Battersea Park, Cardiff and London.
Delyth Rennie, policy adviser for SEEN in Sport, said: “We were concerned to note that the organisers of the Pride 10K – an England Athletics-licensed race – seemed to consider compliance with England Athletics’ rules of competition to be optional.
“Although the section promoting gender self-identification has been removed from the website, it was disappointing that England Athletics did not respond directly to our concerns.
“We are therefore not aware of any steps it intends to take to ensure the rules are enforced.”
London Frontrunners also runs a dedicated women’s training programme which explicitly welcomes male runners who identify as women.
A question on the programme’s website asks: “I am a trans woman – can I join the programme?” The answer is: “Yes, absolutely!”
The sessions have been preparing runners for Saturday’s Pride Run. Photographs published by the club show O’Connor participating in the programme – alongside female runners.
One participant, who asked to remain anonymous, told [Un]Captured she had seen a male runner participating in the women’s training programme using the women’s changing facilities at the Kentish Town Leisure Centre, one of the club’s designated meeting places.
London Frontrunners has also opposed proposed guidance clarifying the provision of single-sex facilities following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the meaning of “sex” in the Equality Act.
In July, the club posted on Instagram: “LFR strongly disagrees with the guidance recently issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. It opens up our trans and non-binary members to discrimination, not to mention the implications this could have for the wider community.”
The club encouraged members to contact their MPs and directed them to templates and campaign materials calling for the proposed code to be rejected.
A Pride Run 10k spokesperson said: “While Pride Run is organised by volunteers who are also members of London Frontrunners, legally and organisationally it is a separate entity.
“Our event is compliant with the rules and guidance issued by England Athletics.
“Following a meeting with EA, we updated our website and event to reflect recent changes in guidance.
“We do not comment on individual cases. We will not be commenting further.”
An England Athletics spokesperson said: “England Athletics have been in communication with the organisers of the Pride 10k. We are aware of an error in the information published on the event website relating to event requirements. This issue has now been corrected. We continue to work with the organisers to ensure all aspects comply with UK Athletics Rules and the associated England Athletics Licence Standards.”
9 Responses
I find it abhorrent that these bodies are being allowed to ignore the rules and the law to fulfil their deluded agendas.A proven facts and truths is men born as biological men cannot remove or add parts to their body and magically make them a real biological born woman. Contrary to what they believe makes them a woman they aren’t. They can’t have or conceive a baby you need ovaries and a womb, they can’t menstruate to make it possible to have a baby , and finally they can’t produce real nutritional milk without chemical help to feed a baby.
Why have an England Athletics licence, and then actively look to circumvent UKA rules? That is irresponsible, at best.
Presumably, the previous iterations of this race were also licensed by England Athletics. Why, therefore, have men not been excluded from the previous year’s female results?
Whether they agree with the guidance or not is immaterial. The guidance is designed to help them follow the law which is clear and not open to different interpretations. If they don’t like the law, they should campaign to change the law. Not liking the law isn’t an excuse to break it, and then pretend you’re not breaking it by taking out references to your probable law-breaking from your website.
The UKA licence needs to be withdrawn.
The results should not go into Power of10 and some males are likely to infiltrate the female rankings.
The Oxford half is not run under UKA licence and the results do not go onto Power of10.
The whole situation is a farce.
When you have categories, they are there specifically to exclude or include certain demographics to ensure that the event is fair for them. No one is excluded you just need to enter the correct category.
Having categories and then telling people to ignore them will cause people to self exclude because they are being treated unfairly (particularly women), so their approach was exclusionary not inclusionary. And that’s before we start looking at UKA rules and laws around discrimination, which they are almost certainly breaking too
Brilliant article, Janet. Thank you for exposing this naked undermining of UKA rules & unfairness against female runners.
Excellent piece Janet. Thank you so much for doing all you can to hold these organisations to account.
Well done. Good article.
It seems particularly unkind to name the participants when you have said that it’s the organisers who allowed it. Surely you’re blaming the organisers?