diff --git a/axelrod/load_data_.py b/axelrod/load_data_.py
index eff61a564..45107b50a 100644
--- a/axelrod/load_data_.py
+++ b/axelrod/load_data_.py
@@ -1,12 +1,7 @@
 import pathlib
 from typing import Dict, List, Text, Tuple
 
-try:
-    # For Python >= 3.9
-    from importlib import resources
-except ImportError:
-    # Try backported to Python < 3.7 `importlib_resources`.
-    import importlib_resources as resources
+import pkgutil
 
 def axl_filename(path: pathlib.Path) -> pathlib.Path:
     """Given a path under Axelrod/, return absolute filepath.
@@ -29,13 +24,7 @@ def load_file(filename: str, directory: str) -> List[List[str]]:
     """Loads a data file stored in the Axelrod library's data subdirectory,
     likely for parameters for a strategy."""
 
-    try:
-        path = (resources.files(directory) / filename)
-        with path.open("r") as f:
-            data = f.read()
-    except AttributeError:
-        # Python < 3.9, fall back to method deprecated in 3.11.
-        data = resources.read_text(directory, filename)
+    data = pkgutil.get_data(__name__, directory / filename)
     
     rows = []
     for line in data.split("\n"):