Transgender cyclist blasts USA Cycling for revoking silver medal

[Helleofabore]

www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/aug/1/usa-cycling-accused-transphobia-stripping-trans-cy/

I have been watching for this story after seeing this cyclist mentioned on Twitter as Leia 'Gaines' which didn't seem right. It has now come about that the cyclists name is Leia Genis, a 25 yr old male cyclist who had been awarded second place.

I am off to see what I can find as to why the decision has been reversed. It seems they were known so this is not a new issue.

www.binary.org.au/male_cyclist_thrashes_his_female_counterparts

It's a bit off to let someone compete and then take the medal away tbh. They should set the eligibility criteria before the race.

Like all those women who have been allowed to compete over the years, knowing they can only reach a certain level because men will finish before them

I am still searching for any insight into why they had their place revoked.

There could be a scenario where they raced without realising a policy change or something. Or it was allowed under testosterone readings and they failed the test there.

I would think there is more to this story that will come out in the future.

They posted this on instagram on the weekend.

On Wednesday I entered the Individual Pursuit, the event which I had, by far, been training for the hardest this last year. Im happy to say that I did well. Well enough to earn a silver medal after losing to the incredibly fast times of @bethanymatsick My many many congrats to her on doing so well
.
The next day, as I was preparing for the mass start races, a USA Cycling official informed me that I was no longer allowed to compete and that my place on the IP podium was to be revoked on account of my trans identity
.
6 weeks ago I was eligible for competition at UCI C1 and C2 races held at the same velodrome and overseen by the same technical director. Yet 6 weeks later, now that I am doing well at nationals, I am suddenly ineligible to compete
.
The transphobia is so blatant it's almost laughable
.
Being a trans woman in this sport is so incredibly frustrating. Poorly communicated guidelines, restrictions and requirements that are constantly changing, lack of empathy from USA Cycling, and a peloton full of furtive whispers and sideways glances mean that even showing up to compete is an immense struggle. (my bold)
.
I am obviously heartbroken. I have worked my ass off to be here and I rightfully earned my silver medal. I will continue to train and race but this experience has left me disgusted and abhorred usacycling
.
Trans women are women. Sport is a human right. I deserve the right to race. 🏳️‍⚧️

I will keep my own counsel as to what I could say about this post....

So they weren't refused due to their trans status. They'd have been able to race with the men, and a trans man would have been able to race with the women, drug tests/medication permitting.

Maybe they failed the testosterone tests?

I agree with the bit you bolded helle the poorly communicated guidelines are frustrating for everyone

But as pickle just said they could still race in the correct sex category

I have sympathy as far as poor communication and ever changing guidance is concerned.

However it’s not due to being trans, it’s to do with being male.

Clear, definitive guidelines protecting women’s sports need to be issued asap.

Yes I think the guidelines need to be clear for everyone

Absolutely.

I find it really interesting that this bit of logic has now been designated as a 'dog whistle' ploy by some extreme activists (especially Bridge's mum).

Apparently, 'no one is excluded, they can compete as males' is simply not an option. Simply not acceptable. It seems because those supporters truly believe that those athletes are no longer 'male' and should be allowed access into the female category accordingly.

Despite the fact they are most definitely not 'female'.

And yes, a no medicalised transman should most definitely be playing in the female category but they can often compete as a male. Even the Rugby allows this, if that transitioned female signs a waiver to remove the responsibility of the Rugby organisations.

But.... it is not acceptable at all... because ... reasons....

Every sympathy for having been awarded a medal before they changed their minds, although the facts here seem muddled and I'll wait for the full story.

But TW are not females, and this is a female sports category. Compete with your own sex or campaign for a new category to be added.

I agree that the guidelines need to be clear from the start. Letting someone race and then taking the medal away afterwards is not helpful to anybody involved.

It seems because those supporters truly believe that those athletes are no longer 'male' and should be allowed access into the female category accordingly.

We are getting down now to the rock bottom of it.

Which is in essence: in my belief system I am female, and entitled to act as if I was, and to require everyone else to maintain this pretense regardless of its impact on everyone else.

No.

If 'no' is transphobic, then so be it. The above belief is in my book highly misogynistic, gynephobic and narcissistic, so we're probably no further forward for having called each other names.

Yes I think the guidelines need to be clear for everyone

I think that competing in the female category now is comes down to at least two types of male.

Those who simply don't understand that they have the advantages and have been led to believe that should have every possible right to enter female sports by those holding extreme views on inclusion.

And those that hold those similar extreme views.

I will keep my thoughts brief as I don't want to be deleted.

There ARE transitioned male athletes who choose not to compete as females even if that is an option for them. They are probably quite rare, but they are out there.

There ARE also transitioned male athletes who have come to understand as they have matured and the studies have come through who have changed their minds about any males' eligibility to compete in a female category. Mianne Bagger is a good example of this (they contributed to this INSIGHT debate in the lead up to the Australian election).

Those who transition from male to female (MTF) are eligible to compete in the female category under the following conditions:
The athlete has declared that their gender identity is female.
The athlete must demonstrate that their total testosterone level in serum has been below 2.5 nmol/L for a period of at least 24 months.
The athlete's total testosterone level in serum must remain below 2.5 nmol/L throughout the period of desired eligibility to compete in the female category.

These are the rules wef 1st July 2022. I would hazard a guess that Leia didn't meet these requirements. It's a shame that USA Cycling hasn't yet given the reason for removing Leia.

The discussions get further confused by the language.

It is the female category that is often called 'women's' category. But calling it the 'women's' category means that the language can be used to wedge in males. And that females who don't identify as women then add their voices to allowing access to these males.

I have just watched a sports article from a week or so ago where a non-binary female was using the language to wedge in their friend who was a mature male transitioner. Another middle aged male who was playing in a code of football where a female of the similar age would not be able to...

The lack of self awareness of the fact that just them making the team when no female of that age does meaning there is an advantage is mind blowing. These males have NO awareness at all and there are females who are supporting them to remain unaware.

“But.... it is not acceptable at all... because ... reasons....”
This is it in a nutshell. They are given alternatives but nothing is acceptable to them, because it wouldn’t validate their feelings 🙄

I would expect that will end up being the reason, yes.

twitter.com/PotniaR/status/1554356941744472064?s=20&t=wFCia1qsegrM9EPJgcoKZQ

If anyone else is interested in the podium photo.

I can think of a number of valid criticisms that could be levelled at the 1 July rule change, but "Poorly communicated" is certainly not one of them. The change was being discussed worldwide by many people without much more than a passing interest in cycling.

Regarding the extent of any legacy male advantage, this made me smile: "“It feels unreal that one year ago I had never entered a bike race and now I’ve raced and won in another country. I’m quite proud of myself"

It’s very unfair to take away a medal. The sports governing bodies are to blame they’ve made a right hash of this total lack of clarity.

"“It feels unreal that one year ago I had never entered a bike race and now I’ve raced and won in another country. I’m quite proud of myself"

I have been trying to verify that puffy, have you seen an original source for it please.

I think that being disappointed that a medal you thought was yours being revoked after the fact is a pretty normal reaction that most people will have.

Whether or not Leia should have been in the race in the first place is another matter but I can't be angry that she's expressing disappointment.

But, if this person failed a testosterone test, isn't that the same as drugs testing. The revoking of a place with a failed drugs test happens the same way.

If they did not know about a change in policy, then why should they not have to deal with the penalty, in this case exclusion. It seem infantilising if the policy changed before entries accepted.

If the policy changed after entries were accepted, then by all means, there is a case here if the entrants were not properly notified and refunds offered.