English, Scottish, and Welsh Cycling Time Trials Restrict Transgender Women from Competing in Female Category

English, Scottish, and Welsh Cycling Time Trials (CTT) regulatory bodies have said that transgender people will no longer be allowed to compete in the female category of CTT competitions.

The update to its transgender policy follows British Cycling’s update from the previous month, with both regulating bodies introducing a new ‘Open’ category in which transgender women will be competing against male athletes.

The female category of CTT competitions will be restricted to athletes whose “assigned gender at birth was female,” who “must not have undergone male puberty,” and whose “testosterone serum level must be below 2.5 nmol/L if tested.”

CTT claims the change is the result of “extensive internal work and insight from other sports’ governing bodies,” and issued the following statement to explain their decision to create a “Gender Tribunal” to rule on gender eligibility concerns.

CTT’s mission is to organise run-time trials, when individuals race against the clock over a predetermined course. Time trialling is a “gender-affected sport,” which means that male and female athletes have fundamentally different strengths, stamina, and physiques.

CTT has made this decision after careful consideration and consultation with other sports governing bodies because it is known that transgender women can retain the physical advantages obtained by a male when going through male puberty.

Following in the footsteps of British Cycling, the team has renamed the male category to “Open,” signalling its support for transgender and non-binary people who wish to continue competing in time trials. People who identify as neither male nor female will also be allowed to compete in this division.

With the new rule in place, competitors in the women’s division will be able to meet the following benchmarks: 1) Their sex assigned at birth was female, 2) They must not have undergone any part of male puberty, and 3) Their testosterone serum level must be below 2.5 nmol/L if tested.

To decide gender eligibility concerns and provide sensitive counsel to persons affected by this policy, the Board of CTT will establish a new body called a Gender Tribunal.

The body’s chair, Andrea Parish, added, “Here at CTT, we are committed to the promotion of inclusivity and a fair competition in sport. This decision underpins these such values and shows our collective support for women’s sport.”

Transgender cyclist Emily Bridges blasted British Cycling as a “failed organization” last month, claiming that the introduction of an “Open” category was a “violent act” that effectively “banned” her and other trans women.

“British Cycling is a failed organization, the racing scene is dying under your watch, and all you do is take money from petrochemical companies and engage in culture wars,” she remarked.

“You don’t care about making sport more diverse, you want to make yourself look better and you’re even failing at that. Cycling is still one of the whitest, straightest sports out there, and you couldn’t care less.”