There has been a spirited debate amongst many sports leagues about the fairness of transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. One governing body has made its hard stance on the matter, and it seems like it will go into action very quickly.
According to the Associated Press, The International Cycling Union, otherwise known as the UCI, has officially ruled that female transgender athletes who transitioned after male puberty will no longer be able to compete in women’s races.
The UCI issued a statement on the matter, saying that this will go into effect starting on Monday.
“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 international federation said in a statement retrieved by the Associated Press.
This decision comes after American rider Austin Killips became the first openly transgender woman to win an official cycling event in May.
This news garnered a number of mixed reactions from fans of the sport on social media.
Riders die in a race, fans cause crashes,…
UCI: You know what, we will take away the rights of trans women.
— Saar De Reu | #watchthefemmes 🩷🚴🏼♀️ (@de_reu_saar) July 14, 2023
I think I’m done entering events sanctioned by rules that align with the UCI
— just some dööd (@jitter_clench) July 14, 2023
Good news from Cycling Governing Body today. Protect Women’s Sports! I cannot believe we have to keep saying this. https://t.co/0UMv273ND2
— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) July 14, 2023
https://twitter.com/leavittnl/status/1679838357512237056
Thank you, @UCI_cycling, for protecting women's sports.
No one is excluded from cycling – "the men’s category will be renamed Men/Open, & any athlete who does not meet the conditions for participation in women's events will be admitted without restriction."#SaveWomensSports https://t.co/rVPDt3YUnF
— WRN Norfolk (@WRNNorfolk) July 14, 2023
The UCI also added in their statement that it is impossible to rule out the possibility that “biomechanical factors” give athletes born a male an advantage in competition.
“Given the current state of scientific knowledge, it is also impossible to rule out the possibility that biomechanical factors such as the shape and arrangement of the bones in their limbs may constitute a lasting advantage for female transgender athletes,” the UCI added.
This decision is the latest governing body to make a similar decision, as the governing bodies of rugby, swimming, and track and field have also outlawed female transgender athletes in women’s athletics.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.