“No one should have to choose between being who they are and participating in the sport they love.
With these words, Emily Bridges expresses her deep unease after a decision she contests on the part of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
The young British transgender cyclist reacted on Friday after her exclusion from the women's section of the British National Open Championships on Wednesday.
The UCI having declared her ineligible.
At 21 and for her first participation in a women's race at this level, the trackwoman, who had broken the men's national junior record for 25 miles in 2018, should have faced several Olympic athletes including the great Laura Kenny.
Nothing will happen.
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Still recorded in men
The problem in this case is that Emily Bridges is still registered with the UCI in the men's category.
Several runners had threatened to boycott the event if Bridges competed, accusing her of possessing an unfair advantage.
Faced with this decision, the cyclist in question replied that she had been in contact with the UCI for several months, thus not understanding her exclusion.
“I have provided both British Cycling and the UCI with medical evidence that I meet the eligibility criteria for transgender female cyclists, including that my testosterone limit has been well below the limit prescribed by the regulations. over the past 12 months,” Bridges said in a statement.
A Statement from Emily Bridges pic.twitter.com/vyzvt7nqvo
— Sandy 💜💙❤ 🏳️🌈 Ally She/Her (@sullivansa1) April 1, 2022
“Demonized” by the press
The athlete added that she simply wanted to "get back to competition" and denounced the "demonization" made of her case by the British press: "They attack everything that is not the norm and print what is most likely to generate interest in their articles and bring in publicity”.
"This is done without regard to the well-being of marginalized individuals or groups, and others are left to pick up the pieces because of their actions," said Emily Bridges.
My privacy has been totally violated by speculation about my eligibility and fairness to compete.
The athlete also explained that she was still in contact with the UCI to try to revoke this decision.
This case comes just days after the controversy around swimmer Lia Thomas, also transgender and sidelined by her competitors during one of her victories, in protest against an unfair situation according to them.