Originally published July 14, 2023 7:40 am PDT
The International Cycling Union (UCI) recently instated a controversial ruling, prohibiting biological males who identify as transgender women from partaking in women’s category races on an international scale.
This ban, scheduled to begin on July 17, includes the forthcoming UCI World Championships.
UCI officials assert that this controversial move is a necessary measure “to protect the female class and ensure equal opportunities,” according to a report from Cyclingnews.com.
The ban’s implementation has created a stark discordance with British Cycling’s policies on transgender involvement.
This conflict was highlighted during a May board meeting of the World Championships organizers in Glasgow.
According to the meeting minutes, “The Chair to write on behalf of the Board to the UCI President, to note concerns about the lack of alignment on Transgender and Non-Binary participation and the potential impact on the Championships. This correspondence will be copied to the Chair of British Cycling.”
The organizers of the Glasgow Worlds, when approached by Cyclingnews for comments, did not respond.
The ban specifies that “female transgender athletes who have transitioned after (male) puberty will be prohibited from participating in women’s events on the UCI International Calendar – in all categories – in the various disciplines.”
However, in events like the international Masters, Gran Fondo, and the Master World Championships, UCI is rebranding the Men’s category to Men/Open.
Athletes who don’t meet the requirements for participation in women’s events can compete without any restrictions.
UCI’s decision comes after scrutinizing the current scientific understanding.
They confirmed that there is no solid evidence that at least two years of gender-affirming hormone therapy with a target plasma testosterone concentration of 2.5 nmol/L can fully negate the benefits of testosterone during male puberty.
In an exclusive interview with Cyclingnews earlier this year, UCI President David Lappartient pondered, “Are we able, today, to guarantee fair competition? I can’t answer ‘no,’ but I can’t answer ‘yes,'” the news outlet noted.
The UCI statement on the ban echoed this sentiment, indicating that due to the prevailing scientific understanding, the possibility of biomechanical factors such as the skeletal structure potentially giving an edge to transgender female athletes can’t be dismissed outright.
However, the UCI remains committed to so-called “inclusivity.”
As Lappartient expressed in a statement coinciding with the start of the Tour de France mountain stage, “The UCI would like to reaffirm that cycling – as a competitive sport, leisure activity or means of transport – is open to everyone, including transgender people, whom we encourage like everyone else to take part in our sport.”
He added, “I would also like to reaffirm that the UCI fully respects and supports the right of individuals to choose the sex that corresponds to their gender identity, whatever sex they were assigned at birth. However, it has a duty to guarantee, above all, equal opportunities for all competitors in cycling competitions.”
Lappartient concluded by stressing that the lack of guarantee in ensuring an equal playing field between transgender and cisgender female athletes necessitated the ban.
“It is this imperative that led the UCI to conclude that, given the current state of scientific knowledge does not guarantee such equality of opportunity between transgender female athletes and cisgender female participants, it was not possible, as a precautionary measure, to authorise the former to race in the female categories,” he said.
The decision to modify the rules came about during an extraordinary UCI Management Committee meeting on July 5.
This was shortly after a seminar focusing on transgender athlete participation held on June 21.
