The chief of GB Olympic cycling Sara Symington has signed a letter to stop transgender athletes competing against women, after Emily Bridges was denied a chance to compete last weekend.
The former Archery GB Performance Director is one of 76 women who have written to the world governing body, the UCI, criticising the current policy on trans athletes. The group believes the rule that states trans cyclists are allowed to compete if their testosterone levels remain below five nanomoles per litre for twelve months, should be rescinded because it is unfair.
They wrote: “Recently female athletes in the UK have shown you that they were willing to boycott their own National Championships to get the UCI and British Cycling to hear their concerns about fairness in sport. That is how seriously female athletes are taking this issue and we greatly respect what our sisters were willing to sacrifice to have their voices heard. We are saddened that this should ever have been necessary."
It continued: “We believe that rule 13.5.015 does not guarantee female athletes 'fair and meaningful' competition as the UCI has promised.
“We believe that the rule is discriminatory in that it advantages only biological male athletes by providing them greater opportunity to compete and enjoy the rewards of sport at its highest level. We ask that unless the UCI can provide robust scientific evidence that the rule guarantees fairness for female athletes, that the UCI rescind rule 13.5.015 effective immediately and implement eligibility criteria for the female category that is based on female biological characteristics.”
In response to the letter of complaint, a British Cycling spokesperson said: “We understand that this is an important issue for our staff and riders, which is why we have worked hard to provide forums for them to openly share their views on our policy and transgender inclusion more widely. These discussions are an important part of our commitment to learn and understand more about how the sport sector can achieve fairness in a way that maintains the dignity and respect of all athletes.”
Symington, who was a cyclist for Great Britain at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, being in support of this letter may be seen as controversial given she is criticising the very organisation that she not only works for, but whose own testosterone rules follow those set by the UCI. The UCI and British Cycling's policies were scrutinised as cyclist Emily Bridges was due to race against Dame Laura Kenny in last week's National Omnium Championships.
The 21-year-old was cleared to compete by British Cycling after reducing her testosterone to the required levels but she was then blocked by the UCI, whose guidelines allow them six weeks to convene an expert panel to review a case.
UCI president David Lappartient admitted in an interview last week that their current rules on testosterone were 'probably not enough’, but it remains to be seen whether Bridges will eventually be deemed eligible to race after the six-week deadline.
