Trans cyclist will be allowed in Commonwealth Games

[flyingbuttress43]

www.telegraph.co.uk/cycling/2022/03/22/exclusive-commonwealth-games-2022-allow-trans-women-cyclists/

The Daily Telegraph exclusive reports today that Commonwealth Games chiefs have agreed on new gender rules, which could pave the way for a trans woman to race for a female cycling medal.

The DT understands a potential contender, who previously competed in male categories is in serious contention to be picked. The cyclist has yet to formally confirm they want to compete in Birmingham.

The DT is now in full campaign mode re the trans in sport issue.

The sports section today has the following double page spread

www.telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2022/03/22/sport-must-face-reality-fairness-inclusion-cannot-co-exist/
Ross Tucker

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2022/03/22/transgender-athletes-womens-competition-sport-by-sport-guide/
By Ben Rumsby - Sports investigataions reporter

www.telegraph.co.uk/swimming/2022/03/21/terror-labelled-transphobic-now-tops-inclination-protect-womens/
Oliver Brown Chief Sports Correspondent

Plus an article "Difficult for the science to find level playing field for all"
Tom Cary Senior sports corresondent (no online link)

In the main paper
www.telegraph.co.uk/columnists/2022/03/22/every-win-lia-thomas-loss-women-sport/
Allison Pearson

• Banner head on main paper "Trans sport insanity"

I'm normally the darkest of pessimists but seeing this list of young, currently competing athletes saying it's not ok... I suddenly have hope.

@PermanentTemporary

I'm normally the darkest of pessimists but seeing this list of young, currently competing athletes saying it's not ok... I suddenly have hope.

I'm a relentless pessimist because there have been so many times when I've thought, surely and I'm stamping on my flickers of hope at the moment.

I don't know what the tipping point in numbers will be here to give eachother cover.

Feel a bit emotional looking at twitter - new voices from the sporting world speaking out.

More and more accounts bravely speaking about women's rights

There has been more and more light shone on this in the last few weeks - are we getting close to a turning point ?

Exactly that @EmbarrassingHadrosaurus. We've been here so often... but maybe not quite like this.

Apparently British Cycling is releasing a statement at 7pm.
Will they double down?

twitter.com/runthinkwrite/status/1509227152918683655

Now at 7.15

I don't have much faith they won't just berate everyone for being big meanies.

@OvaHere

Now at 7.15

I don't have much faith they won't just berate everyone for being big meanies.

Standing by for the accusations of transphobia and bullying rather than acknowledging the impact on women's sports and competitions/records/medals…

Emily has withdrawn. Statement gives no sign that BC are remotely interested in female athletes tho.
"We also understand that in elite sports the concept of fairness is essential. For this reason, British Cycling is today calling for a coalition to share, learn and understand more about how we can achieve fairness in a way that maintains the dignity and respect of all athletes."
The coalition will include trans and NB athletes, but not women apparently.

"We know that some of these conversations are happening in pockets of the sporting world, but we want to encourage all sporting governing bodies, athletes, the transgender and non-binary athlete community, the Government and beyond to come together and find a better answer."

Same old same old.

Where have you read the statement Olderbadger?

Where is it? It's not on their twitter yet (will they post it there?)

www.britishcycling.org.uk/about/article/20220330-British-Cycling-calls-for-coalition-to-address-transgender--and-non-binary-participation-in-elite-sports-0

At British Cycling, we believe that transgender and non-binary people should be able to find a home, feel welcome and included, and be celebrated in our sport.

Under the British Cycling Transgender and Non-Binary Participation policy, Emily Bridges was due to participate in the British National Omnium Championships on Saturday 2nd April. We have now been informed by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) that under their current guidelines Emily is not eligible to participate in this event.

We have been in close discussions with the UCI regarding Emily’s participation this weekend and have also engaged closely with Emily and her family regarding her transition and involvement in elite competitions. We acknowledge the decision of the UCI with regards to Emily’s participation, however we fully recognise her disappointment with today’s decision.

Transgender and non-binary inclusion is bigger than one race and one athlete – it is a challenge for all elite sports. We believe all participants within our sport deserve more clarity and understanding around participation in elite competitions and we will continue to work with the UCI on both Emily’s case and the wider situation with regards to this issue.

We also understand that in elite sports the concept of fairness is essential. For this reason, British Cycling is today calling for a coalition to share, learn and understand more about how we can achieve fairness in a way that maintains the dignity and respect of all athletes.

Within recent years, we’ve seen huge advancements in the science and testing around elite sports, the broader scientific and understanding of human biology, developments in protection provided by the law, and crucially a greater respect for the psychological and societal challenges of those who are transgender and non-binary. This is a complex area and by uniting, we can share resources and insights.

We know that some of these conversations are happening in pockets of the sporting world, but we want to encourage all sporting governing bodies, athletes, the transgender and non-binary athlete community, the Government and beyond to come together and find a better answer.

Across sports, far more needs to be done, collectively, before any long-term conclusions can be drawn.

So the UCI stepped in.

No hint at how this has affected the female athletes or how they have any duty of care to them. A vague platitude about fairness.

What 'long term conclusions' are they waiting for exactly because male puberty isn't changing? Unless they are expecting a number of puberty blocked children to become cyclists but I strongly suspect many of them will have self excluding health issues.

Well the spotlight would have shone if bridges would hav3 rode

Wonder who put prseeure on them

I strongly agree, OvaHere - it's embarrassing that UCI had to step in to defuse this.

And BC is conspicuously avoiding any explicit intention to discuss this matter with women's groups or those who are active in the area of saving women's sports and understand the consequences.

Reading twitter it seems like they jumped the gun on Bridges eligibility even by their own ridiculously flawed criteria. He played for the male team last month and was still listed yesterday as male on their website.

Whether it is purely that or that they've finally read the room I don't know. I wouldn't discount Bridges being back later this year or next though.

I want to know exactly what criteria UCI are using that BC aren't

Ridiculous that it ever came to this. Should we be pleased? No, I'm furious!!

This is just a pause in Bridges & BCs offensive into womens cycling. They’ll be back once they’ve got their ducks in a row.
Why do I think this? By the absolutely lack of acknowledgement that women exist.

They don't have the decency to make reference to women or girls sport or fairness for them.

This is solely about him. They included him, and got told No.

They are still looking to find away to let men destroy women's sports.

@CatsOperatingInGangs

This is just a pause in Bridges & BCs offensive into womens cycling. They’ll be back once they’ve got their ducks in a row. Why do I think this? By the absolutely lack of acknowledgement that women exist.

Agreed. BC is not showing any contrition and this is a technicality.

They're expecting to be able to ride this out.

This is what happens when you have a management team who have never organised a race, never competed, never been a commissaire, never stood at a junction waving a flag or been on the back of a motorbike clearing the way and have just been brought in by UK Sport to run the organisation like a commercial business. The old guard have been hauled over the coals recently but cared about the sport in a way the current organisation doesn’t. They just care about medals and money.

@Rodedooda

I want to know exactly what criteria UCI are using that BC aren't

Ridiculous that it ever came to this. Should we be pleased? No, I'm furious!!

I suspect they don't have a better criteria. It seems that shenanigans were afoot even beyond the fact this is a male competing in female sport.

We shouldn't assume that UCI cares about fairness for women either. This was about breaking rules of eligibility (even though those rules are unfair in the first place).

twitter.com/AlisonSydor/status/1509210791806791684

@CatsOperatingInGangs

This is just a pause in Bridges & BCs offensive into womens cycling. They’ll be back once they’ve got their ducks in a row. Why do I think this? By the absolutely lack of acknowledgement that women exist.

Yes. The issue seems to be that he didn't have a female licence (yet) and didn't have qualifying times in the right categories.

I fear this is just a bump in the road for Bridges not a victory for women hence why female athletes are not acknowledged directly in that statement.

"'When it comes to sport, it should be about sex rather than gender, and sex should be based on your biological sex'.

Health Secretary @sajidjavid shares his thoughts on trans athletes with @freddiesayers. Full interview out tomorrow" [[https://t.co/LTeKAJBUNq]]