by Ireland Walker
The International Cycling Union (UCI), the world cycling governing body, announced Friday that it will bar biological males who transition after puberty from competing in the women’s division, the Associated Press reported.
Recent public outcry over transgender athlete Austin Killips, the first openly transgender athlete to win a U.S. race in the female division, prompted the cycling officials to review the transgender athlete policy and ban males from the woman’s division.
“From now on, female transgender athletes who have transitioned after (male) puberty will be prohibited from participating in women’s events on the UCI International Calendar — in all categories — in the various disciplines,” the international federation said in a statement, according to the AP.
The UCI stated that the ban, which will begin on Monday, was vital “to ensure equal opportunities.”
Killips, a biological male, came out on top in the female division in the Tour of the Gila competition, one of the marquee U.S stage races this year. Killips pulled away from the rest of the competition in the final minutes, and defeated runner-up Marcela Prieto by 89 seconds. Killips’ victory sparked a negative response from fans and cyclists, and promoted the Tour of the Gila’s official Twitter account to lock replies on its tweets celebrating Killips’ win.
“The UCI would like to reaffirm that cycling — as a competitive sport, leisure activity or means of transport — is open to everyone, including transgender people, whom we encourage like everyone else to take part in our sport,” UCI president David Lappartient said.
Officials in the governing bodies for track and field and swimming have also ended the ability of biological males who underwent puberty to compete in global events in the women’s divisions, according to AP.
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Ireland Walker is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.
