Transgender women will be barred from competing in British Cycling’s women’s competitive events in changes that will make the men’s category open.
A new policy change ends the hopes of a transgender cyclist Emily Bridges Compete in women’s competitions.
It’s been 14 months since the 22-year-old was banned from competing in her first women’s Derby event – facing five-time Olympic champion Dame Laura Kenny – after cycling. The world governing body ruled that she was not eligible to race Because she was still registered as a cyclist.
Emily Bridges. Pic: AP
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), cycling’s global governing body, has yet to announce a new eligibility position for transgender people.
Today’s policy announcement, which is set to go into effect by the end of the year, covers just that British Cycling events.
British Cycling has apologized for the “uncertainty and discomfort many have felt” since their participation policy was transgender and non-binary. Suspended April 2022 To conduct research and consulting.
Asked if the new policy was discriminatory, British Cycling boss John Dutton told Sky News: “We’ve taken the view that this is entirely about it being inclusive.
“We have created a new open class that anyone can join and also a completely inclusive and accessible non-compete policy.
We will not tolerate any form of discrimination in the advancement of this policy.
“And it is really important that we support, empathize, and sympathize with the riders affected by this policy change.”
Bridges, who set a junior national record over 25 miles in 2018, came out as a transgender woman in October 2020 and began hormone therapy last year to lower her testosterone levels.
She could not be reached for comment on the British Cycling announcement, which said the female category will be for riders who were identified as female at birth and transgender men who have not yet started hormone therapy.
Mr Dutton said: “It’s clear that Emily and a number of other athletes are affected by this policy.
“But what we wanted to provide at this time was clarity about the direction of travel. The decision we made on behalf of British Cycling is for the entire cycling community.”
Mimicking Britain’s triathlon is British Cycling, which last year announced plans for an “open class” for transgender men and women and non-binary athletes.
International athletics and swimming bodies have banned male athletes from competing in international women’s events.
“It’s very difficult,” said Mr. Dutton. “It’s divisive. It’s emotional. It affects people. And we fully understand and appreciate that. So it’s been a difficult process.”
Cycling’s global governing body is reviewing its rules after negativity raised by Austin Kelips, a transgender woman who won a Gila stage race in the women’s race in New Mexico last month.