British Cycling Bans Transgender Women From Racing In Women's Events
Time to Read: 2 minute
British Cycling Federation Worked For 9 Months To Determine Participation Of Transgender Cyclists
The British Cycling Federation announced that it will ban transgender athletes from participating in women's events from the end of this year.
According to British Cycling, transgender women, transgender men, non-binary individuals and those designated male at birth will be eligible to participate in the “open” category.
The current male category will become open and transgender men will be able to participate according to what the British federation reported after a nine-month job.
British Cycling suspended its previous competitive policy in April 2022 following controversy over transgender woman Emily Bridges, who asked to participate in the women's national championships and was turned down.
“We have spent many months looking at three areas: first, a consultation with the affected athletes and the wider cycling community; second, by examining the medical research available to date; and third, from a legal perspective in relation to the Equality Law”, explained the manager.
The federation's previous policy on the matter allowed transgender athletes to participate in the female category if their testosterone levels were below five nanomoles per liter of blood during the 12 months prior to the competition.
Cycling Meets Athletics
World Athletics, the governing body of world athletics, has banned transgender athletes from competing in female categories at the international level if they have gone through male puberty.
The agency's president, Sebastian Coe, announced that the ban took effect March 31.
Coe explained that a task force will be established to conduct further research on eligibility guidelines. for transgender people.
“Decisions are always difficult when they involve conflicting needs and rights between different groups, but we continue to believe that we must uphold equity for female athletes above all other considerations,” Sebastian Coe said after announcing the decision. “We will be guided in this by the science around physical performance and the male advantage that will inevitably develop in the coming years. As more evidence becomes available, we will review our position, but we believe the integrity of the women's category in track and field is paramount.”