Under the new entry criterion, which the federation says is based on principles of “fairness”, transgender cyclists will be able to compete in an “open category” with men, while women’s races will be reserved “for those whose gender is assigned female at birth”
After a review and consultation process lasting more than nine months, the British cycling federation has decided to ban transgender women from competing in women’s competitions. Under the new entry criterion, which the federation says is based on principles of “fairness”, transgender cyclists will be able to compete in an “open category” with men, while women’s races will be reserved “for those whose gender is assigned female at birth”. The new regulations will therefore prevent athletes such as Emily Bridges, the country’s most high-profile transgender cyclist, from being part of the British women’s team. Bridges herself was prevented from participating in her first elite women’s race last year by the UCI, the world cycling federation, despite complying with the rules and parameters in force at the time. In response to British Cycling’s decision, Bridges called the change an “act of violence” by a “failed organisation” engaged in “culture wars”. In the past, the British federation allowed transgender women to compete in elite women’s events, provided testosterone-based regulations were respected.
“ensuring fair competition”
But in light of the public debate that had arisen, about the possibility of balancing the principle of inclusion with that of fairness, the old regulation had been suspended, initiating the review that led to today’s decision. “The latest research studies have shown that even when undergoing testosterone suppression, transgender women maintain a performance advantage,” said British Cycling. Our goal has always been to promote equality, diversity and inclusion while ensuring fair competition.”
Source: TG 24 Sky
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