The new head of BBC Sport has pledged to leave his personal views ‘at the door’ after writing an article in which he seemed to compare women concerned about trans athletes to racists.
Alex Kay-Jelski was appointed as the director of BBC Sport in April this year to replace Barbara Slater, who retired after 14 years.
In a statement issued on Thursday, he said he would not be advocating for any position ‘in my role at the BBC’ and that he was calling for ‘more kindness’ in debate.
It comes after he was attacked by JK Rowling and other gender-critical feminists for the column he wrote in 2019 which was recently recirculated online.
Mr Kay-Jelski, who was then sports editor of The Times, seemed to compare those who portrayed trans athletes as ‘threatening’ to racists who may say things such as ‘don’t let black men in the same shops as you or they’ll rape your women’.
Alex Kay-Jelski (pictured) was appointed as the director of BBC Sport in April this year
Alex Kay-Jelski said he would not be advocating for any position ‘in my role at the BBC’ (stock photo of the BBC headquarters)
He also said it would be ‘mad’ to argue that Jamaican sprinters or Ethiopian marathon runners should only compete against each other as they also have genetic advantages.
He wrote: ‘Sounds mad doesn’t it? Nasty, even. Indeed.’
Speaking about athletes who have criticised transgender athletes in women’s sports, such as Martina Navratilova and Sharron Davies, he said they were ‘not experts’.
Mr Kay-Jelski issued a new statement on to the group SEENinJournalism.
This group describes itself as a network of journalists committed to ‘truth and impartiality’ around gender issues.
His statement read: ‘I was making the point that there were not, to my knowledge, many transgender athletes performing at the top of their sport and consequently, they were not a major feature of elite sport.
‘I had no intention of being disrespectful to any former or current athletes.
‘Instead, I was calling for kindness in the debate because I did not want my words to have the reverse effect and I have never called into question anyone’s expertise on women’s sport.
Ms Rowling (pictured) has been outspoken on her views on gender, and tweeted earlier this month that it was ‘utterly predictable’ that someone like Mr Kay-Jelski would be appointed by the BBC to the prominent role
Former Olympian Sharron Davies (pictured) won silver in the 400m medley silver at the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow
Ms Navratilova (pictured) claimed Mr Kay-Jelski blocked her on X without even speaking to her
‘I am not a campaigner and I will not be advocating for any position in my role at the BBC.
‘Anyone who works for the BBC is expected to leave their views at the door and approach issues with impartiality.
‘Under my leadership, BBC Sport will report these issues impartially.’
But Mara Yamauchi, who represented Britain as a marathon runner in the 2008 Olympics, said she was not satisfied by Mr Kay-Jelski’s remarks.
Writing on X/Twitter, she said: ‘There are only a few males in women’s sport and anyway, be kind!’
She added: ‘This gives me zero reassurance.’
JK Rowling tweeted earlier this month that it was ‘utterly predictable’ that someone like Mr Kay-Jelski would be appointed by the BBC to the prominent role.
She said the broadcaster has a ‘shameful’ record on gender issues.
Ms Navratilova responded: ‘This is pretty pathetic – never heard of this man, looked him up here and found myself blocked.
‘Once again, good to know that men apparently know what women like myself and Sharron know about biology and sports etc. Just amazing to be this confident, no?’
The row drew in Harry Potter author JK Rowling who wrote: ‘I’d say it’s unbelievable for a man in his position to say these things at all, let alone block you, and yet, given the shameful state of the BBC’s reporting on the women’s rights/gender issue, it’s utterly predictable.’
The issue of trans rights has become incredibly sensitive at the BBC as it has faced accusations that in the past it has been too influenced by campaign groups like Stonewall.
