Trans Athletes Banned from UK Female Cycling Events, Pending Policy Review

JUL 21 2022·Updated DEC 24 2022

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The Facts

On Fri., British Cycling banned trans women from competing in female cycling events, pending a policy review. They cited discrepancies between their code and that of the international cycling body, UCI.
New York Post
This follows the barring of transgender cyclist Emily Bridges from competing in the women's British National Omnium championship last weekend.
The Washington Times
Beginning March 2020, UCI implemented a regulation requiring transgender women's testosterone levels to be below 5 nmol/L for at least 12 months prior to competing in women's events.
CNN
Although Bridges claims to have met this requirement, the UCI ruled she was ineligible to compete as she was still registered as a male cyclist.
guardian
The policy suspension comes just days after UK PM Boris Johnson voiced his support for banning transgender women from female sports.
guardian
British Cycling will conduct a full review of the policy in the coming weeks.
BBC News

Sources Split

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RIGHT

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ESTAB

The Spin

Left narrative

The regulation of women's sports unfairly targets athletes who are considered excessively masculine. Among elite athletes, both men and women can carry similar levels of testosterone. The notion that a 'woman' is defined as someone with a 'normal' testosterone level is nonsensical.

nytimes

Right narrative

Trans athletes have no place in women's sports. Sport is about the body, and male and female bodies are just different. Cisgender female athletes are at risk of being left to compete for second place against trans competitors with an obvious biological advantage.