May 27, (THEWILL) – Transgender women face exclusion from participating in competitive women’s events organised by British Cycling, as the sport’s governing body unveils new policies aimed at promoting inclusivity.
The decision, expected to be implemented before the end of this year, will witness the men’s category transition into an open category. Consequently, this ruling dashes the hopes of cyclist Emily Bridges, a transgender athlete, who had aspired to compete in women’s competitions. Bridges was prohibited from participating in a women’s event last year after the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world governing body for cycling, declared her ineligible due to her male cyclist registration.
British Cycling, having temporarily suspended its transgender and non-binary participation policy in April 2022, to conduct research and consultations, expressed regret for the “uncertainty and upset” caused by the hiatus. However, the UCI is yet to release its revised guidelines on transgender eligibility. Responding to queries regarding potential discrimination, British Cycling’s CEO, Jon Dutton, said the new policy is driven by a commitment to inclusivity. He emphasised the establishment of an open category accessible to all riders and a non-competitive policy that prioritises inclusiveness.
Dutton reiterated that the organisation will not tolerate any form of discrimination in enforcing the policy change, highlighting the importance of supporting and empathising with affected riders. In light of the policy announcement, British Cycling clarified that the female category would be limited to riders assigned female at birth and transgender men who have not yet undergone hormone therapy.
Emily Bridges, a former national junior men’s record holder, expressed her discontent with British Cycling’s decision in an Instagram statement. She accused the organisation of lacking concern for diversity in the sport and criticised the lack of nuanced policy discussions and thorough examination of research data pertaining to specific sports.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
