Last updated on .From the section Cycling
Transgender cyclist Emily Bridges described British Cycling's decision in May as "a violent act"
World cycling's governing body has ruled transgender women will be prevented from competing in female events.
The stance follows a similar decision by British Cycling, with the UCI seeking "to protect the female class".
The UCI said anyone who has transitioned after male puberty could compete in a 'men/open' category.
Female American transgender cyclist Austin Killips won a UCI women's event two months ago.
In the wake of that result, the world body reopened consultation on the issue, saying it heard "the voice of female athletes and their concerns about an equal playing field for competitors".
The UCI has renamed the male category 'men/open' and added "any athlete who does not meet the conditions for participation in women's events will be admitted without restriction".
Previously, transgender women could compete in elite female events provided they met testosterone-based regulations.
Now, the UCI says it has "taken note of the state of scientific knowledge" around hormone therapy, which it says "does not completely eliminate the benefits of testosterone during puberty in men".
As a result, it concluded action was necessary at international level "as a precautionary measure".
"Cycling is open to everyone, including transgender people," said UCI president David Lappartient.
"However [the UCI] has a duty to guarantee equal opportunities for all competitors."
The UCI also acknowledged rules "may change in the future as scientific knowledge evolves".
The governing body said the changes would apply to events on the UCI international calendar, including the Women's World Tour, World Championships and World Cups across different cycling disciplines.
The announcement was welcomed by Great Britain's Olympic gold medallist Nicole Cook who tweeted: "Delighted that UCI have updated their policy for participation of transgender athletes in competition. The decision to ensure fair sport for female athletes is the right one. Well done!"
Writing on Instagram, transgender cyclist Emily Bridges said "hope is gone now".
"Official, sanctioned competitive sport is no longer for trans people," she wrote.
"We will continue to fight this. In sports labs, in courtrooms and on the streets."
limpdoge on July 15th, 2023 at 16:18 UTC »
Sports are not actually mens and womens. There is Open and then protected biological categories to allow folks who cannot reasonably compete in the Open to still have opportunities to compete. Womens is obviously the largest one numbers-wise, but there plenty of others. Wimbledon has a wheelchair category because someone without legs would otherwise not be able to compete. Womens isn’t a great label as it’s also a gender identity (and gender identity should not bar anyone from competing), but the category is for folks biologically female to compete. Trans folks deserve their own protected category for their unique biological situation(s) but until that happens, they belong in open.
femcel-btw on July 15th, 2023 at 13:26 UTC »
As a woman who is very much into road cycling, I can guarantee that pretty much no one who has an opinion on this actually gives a fuck about female cycling.
dollydrew on July 15th, 2023 at 13:23 UTC »
I regret that this topic has become so politicized. There are many crucial issues that deserve thorough discussion and investigation with this topic. However, it is impossible to do so amid the incessant and hostile inter-fraction bickering. Both sides seem to be using this as an all-or-nothing test for loyalty to their political party.