World Cycling Body Bans Trans Female Athletes from Women’s Events

The International Cycling Union (UCI) has banned transgender women who have undergone male puberty from competing in the female category of competitive events Friday (July 14). The governing body also renamed the men's category as "Men/Open."

The new rules, which they called a "precautionary measure," will take effect on July 17.

As a result, all athletes who do not qualify for the female category will be able to enter Men/Open events without restriction.

In a statement, the UCI said its Management Committee held an extraordinary meeting on July 5 and "decided to adapt the current UCI rules on the right of female transgender athletes to take part in competitions on the UCI International Calendar.

"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 cycling body added.

UCI also said it would hold talks with other sporting bodies over a jointly-funded "research program aimed at studying changes in the physical performance of highly trained athletes undergoing transitional hormone treatment."

The UCI's decision followed the lead of British Cycling when it banned transgender women from competing in the female category of competitive events last May.

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A Change of Mind After Killips Issue

The world cycling body previously allowed transgender women with reduced testosterone to take part in female events. It only agreed to reopen consultation around transgender women competing in female events after 27-year-old US cyclist Austin Killips became the first transgender rider to win a UCI women's stage race this year.

Last year, Killips also became controversial for allegedly pushing cyclocross athlete Hannah Arensman to retire at the age of 25 after she placed fourth in what seemed to be the final race of her career, with transgender female cyclists in third and fifth places.

In a written statement to the US Supreme Court, she expressed that while she was honored to be part of a family of athletes, the inclusion of transgender female athletes in her sport made training and competing harder.

"[I]t has become increasingly discouraging to train as hard as I do only to have to lose to a man with the unfair advantage of an androgenized body that intrinsically gives him an obvious advantage over me, no matter how hard I train," she wrote at the time.

UCI president David Lappartient said they are reaffirming that cycling in general, whether as a competitive sport, leisure activity or means of transport, "is open to everyone, including transgender people.

"However, it has a duty to guarantee, above all, equal opportunities for all competitors in cycling competitions," he added.