“You are encouraging a genocide against us”: transgender lashes out at British cycling federation now that they are no longer allowed to participate in women’s races | Cycling

The British cycling federation British Cycling today announced its decision after nine months of research: transgender women in Great Britain are no longer allowed to participate in competitive cycling races in the women’s categories. Women’s competitions are only open to participants whose gender was determined at birth. The men’s category will therefore be changed to an ‘open category’. Those competitions are open to individuals who were diagnosed as male at birth, as well as transgender women, transgender men and non-binary athletes.

Until recently, testosterone levels were looked at. Any transgender woman who brought that back below a certain limit for several months was eligible to compete in women’s races. But at the end of 2022, questions were raised about that approach. The reason was an attempt by Emily Bridges, who indicated in 2020 to be a trans athlete, to participate in the national championships in the omnium. British Cycling saw no problem with it, but the International Cycling Union (UCI) blocked participation. She would have too much advantage. The British association therefore investigated whether something should be changed in the regulations. Yes, they said. “These new rules ensure fairness in our cycling sport, but also ensure that everyone can participate in competition,” said Jon Dutton, CEO of the British Cycling Federation.

But in an Instagram post, Bridges is particularly sharp for the organization. “British Cycling is a failed institution,” she writes, among other things. “The world of cycling is dying under your watch. All you do is take money from petrochemical companies and engage in culture wars. What you are doing is an act of violence. Because your government also expresses its admiration for the fascist ideas of Ron Desantis (US presidential candidate, ed.), who is eager to propose legislation that will exclude us from public life. The British cycling federation is thus promoting a genocide against us. No, you are not making the cycling world better at all. But with making yourself better.”

Bridges denounces that the opinion of the transgender people has not been heard at all in the file. “The research was not critically examined. Any discussion is inherently political and driven by people acting in bad faith. I’ve been donating my body to science for the past two years. All this relevant data will be released soon. Hopefully, good discussions can then be had.”

If that doesn’t happen, she threatens to leave “the horrible” Britain because of “the high level of hate crime against transgender people”.