The International Cycling Union will ban transgender athletes from participating in women’s competitions

The International Cycling Union (UCI) will ban participation from next Monday transgender athletes who changed gender after puberty in the female events of their international calendar.

In a statement released this Friday, the UCI indicated that it made this decision “in light of current scientific knowledge” about The influence of gender reassignment treatment on sports performance.

“Taking into account the scientific uncertainties that still exist, it is necessary to take this measure that seeks to protect the female category and guarantee equal opportunities,” the organization said.

He added that the ban could be adjusted “depending on future scientific findings” and assured that he would exchange information with other international federations and the sports movement to establish a research program that studies the evolution of physical performance of athletes subjected to hormone treatments. transition.

The UCI has indicated that transgender athletes will be able to participate in the so-called non-professional Masters International Tests, in which the men’s category will be renamed “Male/Open”, which will include athletes who do not qualify to be in the women’s category.

UCI president David Lappartient emphasized that this decision does not call into question that cycling is a sport open to everyone and that it does not deny the right of everyone to choose the gender they want, even if it is different from the one assigned to them at birth.

“But it is the UCI’s duty to guarantee equal opportunities for all participants in cycling events,” said Lappartient, who adopted the ban “as a precautionary measure.”

The UCI’s decision comes after several meetings with experts on the subject.