The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the global governing body for sports cycling, announced a significant policy change on Friday, resulting in transgender athletes being banned from participating in all international women’s events.
This development arrives over two months following UCI’s defense of its policy regarding the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports. According to the revised guidelines, trans cyclists who “transitioned after (male) puberty” will henceforth be disqualified from competing in women’s events.
This decision was solidified at a UCI Management Committee meeting, which followed a seminar addressing the conditions for the participation of transgender athletes in women’s cycling events. This seminar, conducted by the UCI on June 21, included “various stakeholders — transgender and cisgender athletes, experts from the scientific, legal and human rights fields, and sporting institutions — were able to present their respective positions,” the statement read.
“From now on, 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,” the statement read.
The assembly comprised both transgender and cisgender athletes, as well as experts from scientific, legal, and human rights fields, and representatives from sporting institutions.
The committee resolved that given the current “state of scientific knowledge”, it cannot be assured that any physical advantage a trans athlete may have would be negated post hormone therapy treatments.
“In this context, the UCI Management Committee concluded, considering the remaining scientific uncertainties, that it was necessary to take this measure to protect the female class and ensure equal opportunities,” the statement said.
The updated rules, which will be effective from July 17, dictate that individuals who do not fulfill the guidelines for the women’s category will now be classified under the men’s category, henceforth to be renamed “Men/Open.”
UCI President, David Lappartient, underlined the inclusivity of the sport. “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 participate,” he affirmed.
Furthermore, Lappartient confirmed the UCI’s respect for individuals’ right to align their sex with their gender identity, irrespective of their birth-assigned sex.
“However, it has a duty to guarantee, above all, equal opportunities for all competitors in cycling competitions. 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 authorize the former to race in the female categories,” he said.
In the previous year, the UCI had altered its rules to specify that athletes must maintain serum testosterone levels of 2.5 nanomoles per liter or less for a minimum of 24 months before they are permitted to compete in women’s events. This was a marked increase from prior rules which demanded levels below 5 nanomoles for 12 months before a race.
The policy came under scrutiny in May after Austin Killips, a trans cyclist, became the first transgender female to win a UCI stage race at the fifth stage of the Tour of the Gila.
After substantial public criticism, the UCI announced it would reassess its policy, a decision that culminated in Friday’s announcement.
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