Description

Shortlisted for the 2023 William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award

A Times and Telegraph Book of the Year

‘A hard-hitting, important, scientifically rigorous polemic … thrillingly fearless’ – The Times

On the face of it, women’s sport is on the rise, garnering more attention and grassroots involvement than ever before. However, the truth is that in many respects progress is stalling, or even falling back.

Sharron Davies is no stranger to battling the routine sexism the sporting world. She missed out on Olympic Gold because of doping among East German athletes in the 1980s, and has never received justice. Now, biological males are being allowed to compete directly against women under the guise of trans ‘self-ID’, a development that could destroy the integrity of female sport. This callous indifference towards women in sport, argue Sharron and journalist Craig Lord, is merely the latest stage in a decades-long history of sexism on the part of sport’s higher-ups.

A strong fightback is required to root out the lingering misogyny that plagues sporting governance, media coverage and popular perceptions. This book provides the facts, science and arguments that will help women in sport get the justice they deserve.

Publisher Review

‘With forensic attention to detail, [Sharron] gathers the hard evidence … Gives a compelling account of how women in sport continue to be subjugated’ – Frances Hardy, Daily Mail ‘Sharron’s book sets out all the reasons why sport should be based on biological reality. Notions of fair play and a level playing field are the reason sport has lasted thousands of years. If we take those away, we will only have play at one end and war at the other. We will also abandon 52% of the world’s population’ – Daley Thompson, Olympic decathlon gold medallist in 1980 and 1984 ‘The facts and science are laid out nicely here by Sharron Davies. It’s great to see a female athlete supporting those following in her footsteps’ – Martina Navratilova, all-time female tennis legend ‘Olympian Sharron Davies was way out ahead of the sports world, warning everyone of an impending crisis to girls’ and women’s sport. She and I know the bitter taste of unfairness: we both competed against doped up East German swimmers. History is repeating itself, this time by men who identify as women. Sharron and Craig tackle this story with precision and fairness’ – Nancy Hogshead-Makar, triple Olympic swimming gold medallist and CEO, Champion Women ‘A passionate book, one with a mission … Unfair Play is a hard-hitting, important, scientifically rigorous polemic … thrillingly fearless. I found myself cheering Davies on’ – Melanie Reid, The Times