Union Cyclist International Bars Transgenders From Competing in Female Category

Anna van der Breggen of the Netherlands (L) outsprints Emma Johansson (R) and Elisa Longo-Borghini of Italy (C) to win gold in the Women's Road Race on Day 2 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Fort Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 7, 2016. Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Transgender athletes will be barred from competing in international women’s events, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) announced on Friday.

UCI updated its policy which will now bar any trans cyclist from competing in women’s events if they “transitioned after (male) puberty.”

“The meeting of the UCI Management Committee was held following a seminar on the conditions for the participation of transgender athletes in women’s cycling events, organized by the UCI on 21 June, at which the 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 (pdf) read.

UCI President David Lappartient (R) speaks to the media about the fight against technological fraud during a press conference in Geneva on March 21, 2018. Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP

“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 decision followed a July 5 meeting, when the governing body found that the current “state of scientific knowledge” can not guarantee that any physical advantage would be eliminated after undergoing hormone therapy treatments.

Political Support and Opposition

California Gov. Gavin Newsom supports transgender athletes and said everyone should have an equal opportunity when competing in any sports activity at any level, youth or professional.

“Put it in perspective,” Newsom said during an interview with local Fox 11. “I get why people are fearful. I get why people, and I understand, intimately, understand it; I’ve got four young kids that are deeply involved in sports. I understand that. Again, you approach it with humility, sensitivity, and humanity. These kids are more likely than anything else to commit suicide. There, for the grace of God, go any of us as caregivers or parents, I don’t like the weaponization, the assaults on the community, and so it’s finding some common ground.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law last month banning transgender athletes from playing girls and women’s sports that opponents have condemned as deeply discriminatory against transgender athletes and students.

“Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” establishes that women’s sports from middle school through college, including intramurals and club teams, are closed to males based on the biological sex listed on a student’s birth certificate.

“In Florida, girls are going to play girls’ sports, and boys are going to play boys’ sports,” DeSantis said, speaking at a private school in Jacksonville. “It’s not a message to anything other than saying we’re going to protect fairness in women’s sports.”

House Republicans passed federal legislation in April to ban transgender athletes from competing on school sports teams with women and girls.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) lauded the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act” after the bill passed a 219-203 vote along party lines.

“This is a great day for America and a great day for girls and women, and for fairness in sports,” Mr. McCarthy said. “House Republicans pledged before the last election or commitment to American women and girls in sports. Today we kept that.”

The rule change, which goes into effect on July 17, will now enter those who do not meet the guidelines for the women’s category into the men’s category, which will now be renamed “Men/Open.”

“First of all, 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,” UCI President David Lappartient said.

“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 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.”