Description

A TIMES AND DAILY TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE YEAR

SHORTLISTED FOR THE SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2024

Sharron Davies is no stranger to battling the routine sexism of the sporting world. She missed out on Olympic Gold because of doping among East German athletes in the 1980s; now, biological males are being allowed to compete directly against women under the guise of trans ‘self-ID’.

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. Unfair Play provides the facts, science and arguments that will help women in sport get the justice they deserve.

‘A compelling account of how women in sport continue to be subjugated’ Daily Mail

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