Transgender women will be banned from competing in British Cycling’s competitive women’s events in changes that will see the men’s category become open.
New policy change ends hopes of transgender cyclists Emily Bridges to participate in women’s competitions.
It’s been 14 months since the 22-year-old was barred from competing in her first women’s event in Derby – against five-time Olympic champion Dame Laura Kenny – after cycling. the world governing body has decided that she is not eligible to run because she was still registered as a male cyclist.
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), cycling’s world governing body, has yet to announce any new transgender eligibility positions.
Today’s policy announcement, which is expected to come into effect by the end of the year, only covers British cycling events.
British Cycling has apologized for the “uncertainty and upheaval that many have felt” since their transgender and non-binary participation policy was suspended in April 2022 conduct research and consultations.
Asked if the new policy was discriminatory, British Cycling chief Jon Dutton told Sky News: “We felt it was absolutely about being inclusive for everyone.
“We have created a new open category that anyone can ride in, as well as a non-competitive policy that is absolutely inclusive and accessible.
“We will not tolerate any form of discrimination in the pursuit of this policy.
“And it’s really important that we’re supportive, that we’re empathetic, that we’re compassionate to the riders who are impacted by this policy change.”
Bridges, who set a junior men’s national record for 25 miles in 2018, came out as a transgender woman in October 2020 and started hormone therapy last year to lower her testosterone levels.
She could not be reached for comment on British Cycling’s announcement, which said the women’s category would be reserved for riders whose gender was assigned female at birth and for transgender men who have not yet started hormone therapy.
Mr Dutton said: “Emily and a number of athletes are clearly affected by this policy.
“But what we wanted to provide at this stage is clarity on the direction of travel. The decision we have taken on behalf of British Cycling concerns the whole of the cycling community.”
British Cycling is following British Triathlon, which last year announced plans for an “open category” for men, transgender women and non-binary athletes.
International athletics and swimming governing bodies have banned athletes who have undergone male puberty from competing in women’s international competitions.
Mr Dutton said: “It’s very difficult. It’s divisive. It’s emotional. It affects human beings. And we absolutely understand and appreciate that. So it’s been a difficult process.”
Cycling’s world governing body is revising its rules after negativity sparked by Austin Killips, who is a transgender woman, winning the Tour of Gila stage race in a women’s race in New Mexico last month.
Sky news