Transgender cyclists disqualified before the women’s tournament

“We understand UCI’s decision to compete with Emily. However, we also understand her disappointment with UCI’s decision today,” the British Cycling Union (BC) announced today. 31/3. “The integration of transgender athletes into any tournament is much more difficult than issues related to race or culture. This is a challenge for every sport.”

BC continued: “We believe all riders deserve to be made public for a better understanding of competing in tournaments. We will continue to work with UCI on both Emily’s case and the situation. more broadly related to this issue”.

The British Cycling Federation also called for the establishment of a community with the goal of sharing, learning and learning more to find fairness in sport, while showing respect to all athletes.

Bridges, 21, has competed in several men’s races as a man, and won the Yellow Vest in the British Student Cycling race in Glasgow. A few months ago, Bridges met the British Cycling Authority’s women’s competition criteria thanks to hormone therapy that lowered her testosterone levels.

Before transitioning, under the name Zach Bridges, this cyclist set a record of 40.2 km in just over 47 minutes, two minutes behind the female record.

Emily’s aunt, Helen Bridges, 64, said Emily was under a lot of pressure and was very disappointed with UCI’s decision. Helen told the British newspaper Sportmail: “This is a difficult decision, and in my opinion it is not fair. It is not fair to Emily, but many other athletes also think it is unfair for Emily to participate. So this is a very difficult situation to solve. Maybe transgender athletes should have their own tournament, but I think they should be allowed to compete in the women’s tournament.”

According to the Spanish newspaper Marcabeing disqualified from UCI in the national championship seriously affected Emily’s ambition to represent Great Britain at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in the summer of 2022.

The fact that transgender athletes compete in the women’s tournament is still a controversial issue. At the Tokyo Olympics 2021, Gavin Hubbard – a New Zealander, who was born a male – is the first transgender athlete in the history of the Olympics. At the age of 43, this is also the oldest athlete to compete in the over 87kg category. This champion won a silver medal at the 2017 World Championships and a gold medal at the 2019 Pacific Games.

Former US President Donald Trump is one of the opponents of allowing a former male athlete to compete in the women’s tournament. “Imagine if LeBron James decided to have surgery, transgender and then compete in the women’s tournament, what would happen? How will his presence on the field affect?”, Trump said during the concert? lecture at, Phoenix, Arizona in July 2021.

Hong Duy