UCI bans Trans cyclists from competing in women's events

A few months ago the UCI announced the opening of a round table to address the issue of transgender cyclists participating in women's competitions. Following the line set by athletics and after listening to all parties involved as well as scientists and experts, the highest body of cycling has established a new regulation for this type of competitors.

Trans athletes' participation in women's races regulated

At an extraordinary committee of the Union Cycliste Internationale, held on July 5th, cycling's highest body agreed to adapt existing rules to regulate the participation of transgender cyclists in international competitions belonging to its calendar.

The decision follows a series of roundtables and seminars involving trans and cis cyclists, scientists, human rights and sports law experts and other sports institutions.

As could be expected, the UCI has followed a similar line to the one implemented by athletics months ago, i.e., in international competitions those athletes who have made their transition to womanhood after puberty will be banned from participating.

In events classified by the UCI as Masters, which include the Gran Fondo World Series, Gravel World Series and their respective World Championships, as well as the World Championships in the Masters categories, the men's category will be renamed Men/Open, in which those riders who do not meet the conditions to participate in women's events may participate without any type of restriction.

The UCI has opted for this regulation after it could not be guaranteed, with existing scientific studies, that current hormone therapies that reduce testosterone levels below 2.5 mmol/L are sufficient to reverse the benefits obtained when testosterone production is triggered during puberty.

This new regulation will come into force in all competitions as of July 17th and leaves the door open to future modifications based on new scientific evidence that may be produced. In fact, the UCI will initiate conversations with other sports to promote research on the matter in order to achieve the fairest possible regulation.

Following the approval of this regulatory framework, UCI President David Lappartient stated "We would like to reaffirm that cycling, as a competitive sport, is open to everyone, including transgender athletes. We would like to reaffirm that the UCI respects the individual decision to choose the sex that corresponds to each individual's gender identity. But we also have an obligation to ensure equal opportunities for all competitors and current scientific knowledge does not guarantee such equality between transgender athletes and female participants. As a precautionary measure it is not possible to authorize them to take part in the women's events".