LONDON, 1 Apr. (dpa / EP) –
Transgender cyclist Emily Bridges has confessed that she feels “harassed and demonized” after the International Cycling Union (UCI) prevented her from competing in a women’s event this weekend.
Bridges, 21, was due to compete against the likes of Olympic champion Laura Kenny in the British Omnium Championships this weekend in Derby, which was her first race in the women’s category, but on Wednesday night the British Federation of Cycling (British Cycling) announced that the UCI had determined that he was not eligible for the test.
Although British Cycling had accepted that he met the requirements (current transgender regulations require cyclists to have had testosterone levels below five nanomoles per liter for a period of 12 months before the competition), the UCI has not yet License change granted.
In a statement on social media, Bridges expressed his frustration with the process, saying he had been in contact with both British Cycling and the UCI for the last six months, providing the necessary medical evidence, and has yet to receive a full explanation of what happened.
“Despite the public announcement, I am still unclear on the decision on my ineligibility under the rules. I am an athlete and only want to compete again, within the regulations set by British Cycling and the UCI after careful consideration of the investigation. about transgender athletes. No one should have to choose between being who they are and participating in the sport they love,” Bridges wrote.
Bridges, who was in British Cycling’s senior academy in 2019, came out as a transgender woman in October 2020. She continued to compete as a man during her transition and in February won the men’s points event at the British University Championships in February.
In 2018, Bridges set a junior men’s national record over 25 miles, posting a time two minutes faster than any senior runner has done before or since, and his participation in this weekend’s championships sparked debate over whether he was just compete.
“Unsurprisingly with most of the British media, I have been relentlessly harassed and demonized by those who have a specific agenda to push. They attack anything that is not the norm and print what generates publicity, this is with no concern for the welfare of marginalized individuals or groups. Others are left to pick up the pieces because of their actions,” he said.
Bridges said he had been in contact with British Cycling and the UCI and was waiting for a response. Earlier this week, UCI President David Lappartient raised the issue of fairness, telling the BBC that he was concerned current regulations on transgender athletes were going too far.
“In cycling, in swimming, in athletics, the question of fair competition is really a question that we need to put on the table. Is it a right to participate when you make the transition to the highest level or do we have to see if this will affect the fairness of the competition?”, he pointed out then.