Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies has criticized BBC's new sports chief, Alex Kay-Jelski, over comments he made regarding trans competitors in women's sports. In an article from 2019, Kay-Jelski stated that while Davies and tennis legend Martina Navratilova were "influential," they were "not experts."
Davies, who works as a poolside reporter for the BBC, has written to Tim Davie, the corporation’s director-general, seeking an explanation. She condemned what she described as "obvious misogyny," claiming it undermines their extensive experience in elite women's sports.
Navratilova also expressed frustration with Kay-Jelski, labeling him "pretty pathetic" after he blocked her on X (formerly Twitter). Kay-Jelski's article suggested that having separate categories for trans athletes was similar to creating “special categories for Jamaican sprinters and Ethiopian marathon runners,” a comparison both athletes found offensive.
Davies and Navratilova have both been vocal opponents of biologically male athletes competing in female sporting events. This incident has drawn attention to Kay-Jelski, who recently joined the BBC from The Athletic. The BBC has stated it would not comment on work produced for other organizations.