‘This is a violent act’: Transgender cyclist Emily Bridges angrily hits out at British Cycling ban

independent.co.uk:

Emily Bridges has condemned British Cycling’s new policy barring transgender athletes from competing as women as a “violent act” and called the governing body a “failed organisation”.Bridges, who came out as a transgender woman in October 2020, has been at the centre of the debate after British Cycling suspended its previous policy amid the controversy sparked when she sought to race as a woman at the national omnium championships last year.The new policy creates a new ‘open’ category in which transgender women, transgender men, non-binary individuals and those whose sex was assigned male at birth will be eligible to compete, with the ‘female’ category reserved for those assigned female at birth and transgender men yet to begin hormone therapy.In a lengthy statement posted on social media, Bridges said British Cycling “have no authority to control this conversation anymore”.“British Cycling is a failed organisation, the racing scene is dying under your watch and all you do is take money from petrochemical companies and engage in culture wars,” she wrote.“You don’t care about making sport more diverse, you want to make yourself look better and you’re even failing at that.

Cycling is still one of the whitest, straightest sports out there, and you couldn’t care less.”British Cycling said its new policy was based on a consultation with riders and stakeholders, a review of available medical research conducted by chief medical officer Dr Nigel Jones, and legal advice.Bridges has previously said she has been part of research herself which she said showed she did not retain an advantage after hormone replacement therapy.Emily Bridges is one of cycling’s most high-profile transgender competitors (ITV News/PA)Her statement on