British Cycling Balls Up its Transgender Policy

Now we have something / quite-a-lot to discuss and celebrate.
thelawnet
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British Cycling Balls Up its Transgender Policy

Post by thelawnet »

In January British Cycling released a new transgender policy

https://twitter.com/britishcycling/stat ... 7605060613

They threated 'zero tolerance' against unspecified 'hate' in response to this.

There was an existing transgender athlete, who had entered the Academy as male, and until recently was competing as male and winning races.

Said athlete, Emily Bridges was to compete at the National Omnium Championships against Laura Kenny and others. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tran ... -mlf75sfrk

This caused considerable disquiet from many women.

However the UCI have since ruled that as Bridges is registered as male, Bridges is ineligible to compete as female.

This does not seem very complicated, but British Cycling have put out a statement calling for a 'coalition' to address this, the purpose of which is not clear.

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/about ... e-sports-0

It would have perhaps made sense for British Cycling to check they were on solid ground before stirring the hornets' nest.
fullfathom5
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Re: British Cycling Balls Up its Transgender Policy

Post by fullfathom5 »

The British Cycling statement is a content free zone.

What is the purpose of the 'coalition', whom will it comprise, what is the target date for action, etc.?

We hear similar messages very often from our seniors at work and it allows them to say they are doing something to address a specific problem. It's then top priority for a few months before being replaced by the latest fad and then not mentioned again until next time.
mattheus
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Re: British Cycling Balls Up its Transgender Policy

Post by mattheus »

fullfathom5 wrote: 31 Mar 2022, 12:21pm The British Cycling statement is a content free zone.

What is the purpose of the 'coalition', whom will it comprise, what is the target date for action, etc.?
I would imagine the purpose is to avoid making a difficult decision themselves; they are damned whichever way they go, better to have others to share the blame later.

I seem to recall the IOC doing something similar: they delegated all decisions to the individual sports bodies!

I'm not sure I blame them...
borisface
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Re: British Cycling Balls Up its Transgender Policy

Post by borisface »

Interesting context for the phrase 'balls up'.
Nearholmer
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Re: British Cycling Balls Up its Transgender Policy

Post by Nearholmer »

Floundering about not knowing how the heck to react or behave in difficult, uncharted waters, where a single wrong move or word could cause great offence to one person or another, trying to ‘team up’ with other organisations in exactly the same position, in the faint hope that if the team becomes big enough, someone who knows how to navigate this will emerge?
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mjr
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Re: British Cycling Balls Up its Transgender Policy

Post by mjr »

borisface wrote: 31 Mar 2022, 1:33pm Interesting context for the phrase 'balls up'.
or a dog whistle?
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
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thirdcrank
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Re: British Cycling Balls Up its Transgender Policy

Post by thirdcrank »

thelawnet wrote: 31 Mar 2022, 12:09pm (...)
However the UCI have since ruled that as Bridges is registered as male, Bridges is ineligible to compete as female.
(...)
AIUI, that is not quite right without qualification.
British Cycling had accepted Bridges’s entry in the women’s omnium but, in a dramatic late intervention, the UCI have delayed their clearance for the 21-year-old to compete in elite women’s races. Under current UCI rules, a transgender athlete must show that they have lowered their testosterone levels to below 5nmol/L during the past year. Both Bridges and British Cycling expected that requirement to be met in time for Saturday but the UCI invoked an additional clause from their rulebook which allows them to convene an “expert panel” to ratify the decision within the next six weeks.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cycling/202 ... nst-laura/
thelawnet
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Re: British Cycling Balls Up its Transgender Policy

Post by thelawnet »

thirdcrank wrote: 31 Mar 2022, 4:21pm
thelawnet wrote: 31 Mar 2022, 12:09pm (...)
However the UCI have since ruled that as Bridges is registered as male, Bridges is ineligible to compete as female.
(...)
AIUI, that is not quite right without qualification.
British Cycling had accepted Bridges’s entry in the women’s omnium but, in a dramatic late intervention, the UCI have delayed their clearance for the 21-year-old to compete in elite women’s races. Under current UCI rules, a transgender athlete must show that they have lowered their testosterone levels to below 5nmol/L during the past year. Both Bridges and British Cycling expected that requirement to be met in time for Saturday but the UCI invoked an additional clause from their rulebook which allows them to convene an “expert panel” to ratify the decision within the next six weeks.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cycling/202 ... nst-laura/
Both reports appear to be misleading

Per British Cycling's rules: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi ... y_2022.pdf
Any current or prospective Transgender or Non-Binary member who seeks to compete in the female
race category shall be asked to submit the following to the British Cycling Legal and Integrity
Department, at least six weeks in advance of the date at which they first wish to compete:
1) A signed declaration from the individual that their Gender Identity is female, and they wish to
compete in the female category.
2) An attestation from a Medical Professional that the member’s total testosterone level in serum
has been less than 5 nmol/L continuously for a period of at least 12 months.
The member’s total testosterone level in serum must remain below 5 nmol/L throughout the period of
desired eligibility to compete in the female category. This will be monitored by the Participant being
required to submit an attestation from a Medical Professional that the member’s total testosterone level
in serum is below 5nmol/L for a period of at least 12 consecutive months. This will be required annually.
You will note the verb 'monitor', however the actions described do not seem to imply any actual monitoring, just an annual doctor's note.

Meanwhile the UCI https://assets.ctfassets.net/761l7gh5x5 ... 3.2020.pdf
2. she must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Expert Panel (on the balance
of probabilities), in accordance with articles 13.5.020 to 13.5.029, that the
concentration of testosterone in her serum has been less than 5 nmol/L2
continuously for a period of at least 12 months;
§ 4 Assessment by the Expert Panel
13.5.020 A Transgender female (i.e. male-to-female) athlete who wishes to compete in the
female category of competition at an International Event (or to be eligible to set a world
record in the female category in a competition that is not an International Event) must
file the appropriate declaration with the Medical Manager, along with a comprehensive
medical history and such other evidence as is required to demonstrate her satisfaction
of the Transgender Female Eligibility Conditions, including evidence addressing any of
the factors set out at article 13.5.025 that are applicable to her case. The athlete is
responsible for ensuring that the information provided is accurate and complete, and
that nothing relevant to the Expert Panel's assessment of the case is withheld. The
athlete must also provide the appropriate consents and waivers (in a form satisfactory
to the Medical Manager) to enable her physician(s) to disclose to the Medical Manager
and the Expert Panel any information that the Expert Panel deems necessary to its
assessment.
13.5.021 Subject always to article 13.5.027 of these Regulations, to ensure that certification is
received in good time, the athlete should (assuming that the 12-month period has
already been complied with) provide the declaration to the Medical Manager at least 6
weeks in advance of the first International Event in which she wishes to participate in
the female category of competition.

...
13.5.025. In making its assessment, which will be based on the guidance set out in Appendix to
these Regulations, the Expert Panel will take into account all relevant and reliable
evidence, including
1. any reassignment surgeries the athlete has undertaken, including the date(s)
of any such procedures and whether they took place before or after puberty;
2. any other relevant treatment the athlete has received (including any pre- or
post-reassignment treatment), including the dosage and frequency of such
treatment;
3. the levels of testosterone in the athlete's serum during the relevant 12-month
period, as well as the current level of testosterone in the athlete's serum; and
4. the results of any pre- or post-reassignment monitoring.
...
13.5.027. The Expert Panel will complete its assessment as soon as is reasonably practicable in
all of the circumstances of the case. However, in no circumstance will UCI or any
member of the Expert Panel be liable for any detriment allegedly suffered by the athlete
or anyone else as a result of the length of time taken by the Expert Panel to complete
its assessment.
13.5.028. Once it has completed its assessment, the Expert Panel will send its decision in writing
to the Medical Manager.
1. If the Expert Panel decides that the Transgender Female Eligibility Conditions
have not (yet) been met, it must explain in writing the reasons for its decision.
Where applicable, it should also specify what else the athlete may do in order
to satisfy those conditions (including, for example, maintaining the
concentration of testosterone in her serum at less than 5 nmol/L for a longer
period; monitoring; reporting; and further reviews).
2. If the Expert Panel decides that the Transgender Female Eligibility Conditions
have been met, the Medical Manager will issue a written certification of that
athlete's eligibility to compete in the female category of competition in
International Events (and to set a world record in the female category in a
competition that is not an International Event). That eligibility will be subject in
every case to the athlete's continuing satisfaction of the Transgender Female
Eligibility Conditions, including continuously maintaining her serum
testosterone at a concentration of less than 5 nmol/L. The Expert Panel may
specify particular means of demonstrating such continuing compliance. In any
event, the athlete must produce, on request, evidence satisfactory to the
Medical Manager of such continuing compliance.
So it doesn't appear to be so much that the UCI made a dramatic intervention as that British Cycling's rules were inadequate, see also:
13.5.030. The Medical Manager may monitor an athlete's compliance with the Transgender
Female Eligibility Conditions at any time, with or without notice, whether by random or
targeted testing of the athlete's serum testosterone levels (and the athlete agrees to
provide whereabouts information and blood samples for this purpose, and also agrees
that any samples or whereabouts information that she provides for anti-doping
purposes and/or any anti-doping data relating to her may also be used for this purpose)
or by any other appropriate means.

13.5.034. Where the Medical Manager or the Expert Panel determines that a Transgender female
athlete who has previously been declared eligible to compete in the female category of
competition in International Events has failed to maintain her serum testosterone level
at a concentration of less than 5 nmol/L, she may not compete in the female category
of competition in International Events (and will not be eligible to set a world record in
the female category in a competition that is not an International Event) until such time
as she demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Expert Panel that she has maintained
her serum testosterone below 5 nmol/L for a new continuous period of at least 12
months.
It seems that the 'expert panel' is a requirement for all, and six weeks should have been allowed.

The British Cycling rules appear to allow the athlete to simply send in a doctor's note without any blood tests, which seems wholly inappropriate.
thirdcrank
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Re: British Cycling Balls Up its Transgender Policy

Post by thirdcrank »

I'm completely baffles as to whether you are agreeing with my post or not
sjs
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Re: British Cycling Balls Up its Transgender Policy

Post by sjs »

thirdcrank wrote: 31 Mar 2022, 6:42pm I'm completely baffles as to whether you are agreeing with my post or not
It was a non-binary response.
firedfromthecircus
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Re: British Cycling Balls Up its Transgender Policy

Post by firedfromthecircus »

The 5 nmol/L limit for testosterone is just an arbitrary level which would still give athletes testing at that level a significant performance advantage.
Most females (including elite female athletes) have low levels of testosterone circulating naturally in their bodies (0.12 to 1.79 nmol/L in blood)
Source = IAAF

And this testosterone limit does not take into account the advantages of having experienced male puberty, which affects a great deal of performance enhancing physical changes, not least heart size and muscle and bone mass and density.

I understand why there is a desire to be inclusive (or be seen to be inclusive), but for sports to be fair and safe, there have to be some rules limiting who can compete. Weight classes in combat sports, age classes in all sports, and sex classes in most sports seem a pretty fair way to me.

This issue has been heating up for a few years now, but I did wonder if this weekend would prove to be a watershed. Imagine a multiple Olympic and World champion being completely trounced by a relatively unknown athlete. I expect that would cause shock-waves and bring the issue to a much higher level of attention. As it stands we will just have to wait until the next time. I don't think it will be a long time coming.
mattheus
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Re: British Cycling Balls Up its Transgender Policy

Post by mattheus »

sjs wrote: 31 Mar 2022, 7:11pm
thirdcrank wrote: 31 Mar 2022, 6:42pm I'm completely baffles as to whether you are agreeing with my post or not
It was a non-binary response.
#isitok to laugh at this??
thirdcrank
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Re: British Cycling Balls Up its Transgender Policy

Post by thirdcrank »

This is a real godsend for today's media: controversial; a wide range of views, some of which are extreme; easy to illustrate with pictures. Now, the cherries on the cake are that a multiple Olympic and Word Champion is involved and to cap that, the resolution - should there be one - has been postponed so this can be hyped and re-hyped. And when there's a decision, the reports of events can highlight the new reality or chew over what might have been. From an editor's pov it's a gift that will keep giving.
mumbojumbo
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Re: British Cycling Balls Up its Transgender Policy

Post by mumbojumbo »

Why are there so few women in formula one, excepting Louise Hammerton?
thelawnet
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Re: British Cycling Balls Up its Transgender Policy

Post by thelawnet »

This is not going anywhere, this picture of yesterday's Thunder crit, which last year abolished the female and male categories in favour of Thunder and Lightning, which are basically male + anyone non binary or trans who feels they physically compete with male, and female + anyone non binary or trans who feels they physically compete with female.

The rather telling podium for the lightning category consists of Bridges, Lily Chant (until recently Joseph Chant), and in third place Jo Smith, holding her baby.

FUWdzjxXsAAaxk7.jpeg
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