Laura Woods has sparked a free speech row as the pundit revealed she held back from expressing her views on transgender athletes in sports to avoid cancel culture.
The TV presenter previously spoke out about the "numerous death threats" she received after commenting on an article about the eligibility of Olympic champion boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting.
Woods wrote: "Great article Oli", in response to a news story on the two controversial boxers leading her to take to social media: "Since I replied to this article, I've had numerous death threats to myself and my unborn child."
Now, the lead anchor has claimed that speaking up about the issue, which she described as "injustice going on in front of our eyes", was a "death sentence".
Woods said: "I remember just almost screaming internally, because I felt there was such an injustice going on in front of our eyes.
“I was so angry that everyone who wanted to talk about it openly was gaslighted into thinking that what they were saying was wrong.
"It still annoys me now, because there was so much sympathy given to Khelif, and such a lack of it to the women around that athlete.
"It felt so disproportionate. I couldn’t believe that even questioning it out loud was worthy of cancellation."
Laura Woods has sparked a free speech row as the pundit revealed she held back from expressing her views on transgender athletes in sports to avoid cancel culture
| GETTYThe 38-year-old, who is now a mother of one, told the Telegraph: "At the time, it would have been a death sentence if I had said: ‘I don’t think it’s fair that biological men compete in sport against women'.
"I had watched other women and men who had called this out be wiped off the face of the planet. I had a mortgage and bills to pay.
"That might be cowardice. But when the Paris Games came along, I was older, I felt in a much stronger position. I spoke to my employers and said: ‘I feel really strongly about this. Am I going to get in trouble with you if I say something publicly in support of women?’
"They said: ‘No, we believe in free speech, so long as you’re not bringing the company into disrepute'."
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Imane Khelif was permitted to take part in the Paris Olympics despite controversy surrounding her involvement | GETTYImane Khelif, an Algerian welterweight, was barred from the 2023 IBA World Championships days before the final after a last-minute gender eligibility ruling.
The IBA cited undisclosed sex-verification tests, while refusing to publish methods or results, triggering widespread scepticism.
World Boxing and the International Olympic Committee later allowed Khelif to compete under their regulations, including Paris in 2024, noting her years of sanctioned bouts in women’s divisions.
The story garnered widespread media attention, sparking debate over whether sex-verification tests should be compulsory.
Laura Woods has revealed she's received death threats directed at herself and her unborn child after reacting to an article criticising the International Olympic Committee's stance on Imane Khelif | REUTERSWoods, who has been named the Broadcast Sports Presenter of the Year and has twice won the Sports Journalists' Association (SJA) Sports Presenter of the Year award, questioned others in the industry who chose not to speak out.
She added: "I saw what people in my industry were saying about me, very mocking messages. I thought: ‘I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.
"Maybe they’re earlier in their careers than I am now.’ But I look back and wonder: ‘When I was younger, would I have gone with the weight of the crowd?’ And I don’t think I would ever have singled anybody out like that.
"A couple of those people have since messaged me privately, supporting me with things about my baby. But you don’t forget."