Trans women and women's sports

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Sportskeeda
"I am elected to protect the female category": Sebastian Coe on participation of transgender athletes
Story by Abhiruchi Rout

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe has stated that the performance of female athletes will be severely affected if transgender athletes compete in the sport.

In March 2023, Coe had earlier announced a ban on transgender women participating in female competitions, irrespective of their testosterone levels. He had further stated that female transgender athletes who had undergone male puberty won't be allowed to compete in the women's world ranking events.

A recent podcast saw Sebastian Coe interacting with Simon Jordan, where Coe was seen expressing his firm views regarding the ban implemented against transgender women. He stated:

"So, for me, the decision ultimately was based on one very simple proposition - I am elected to protect the female category and if I don't do that no woman will ever win another sporting event."

He gave a strong opinion related to the issue, mentioning that female athletes won't be able to win gold medals if transgender athletes are permitted to compete alongside them. Sebastian Coe, however, believed that they should be competing at the local level. He said:

"The transgender issue is only at the elite level. I am not saying that the transgender athletes shouldn't be able to compete at a local level, they should be. We don't want them to be denied."
The double Olympic champion in the men's 1500m, Sebastian Coe, took over the position of the president of the World Athletics (then IAAF) in August 2015. He was re-elected as the president of the international governing body for a third term at the 54th World Athletics Congress in Budapest in August 2023.

Sebastian Coe criticizes the high ticket prices for Paris Olympics 2024

Sebastian Coe, who was the chief organizer of the London Olympics 2012, wasn't satisfied with the "high" ticket prices. In a conference call with news agencies, he said:

"We have to accept for all sorts of reasons that Paris will be the most expensive Games both for the international federations but also for the fans."
Moreover, he showed his concern for the athletes' families, stating that the expensive tickets for the Paris Olympics 2024 can result in many athletes' families missing out on the best moments of their careers.

He further added:

"Our concern will always be that we want fans in the stadiums watching the events that are at affordable prices and that allow us to grow our sport, and particularly when it comes to the athletes themselves and their families.
Coe also emphasized that the track and field governing body has always considered this, stating:

"It think it is important that families are considered when those athletes, in whichever sport, get to a major championships. It is what we have always tried to do as best as possible in World Athletics."

[Rideback]

https://www.cnn.com/politics/ohio-dewin ... index.html

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Transgender athletes face greater restrictions ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics
© Provided by Washington Examiner
Story by Luke Gentile

Transgender New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard made waves at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics after the athlete became the first biological male to compete against biological females in the Olympics, but the athlete is now ineligible to compete in the 2024 Paris Games.

Restrictions surrounding the participation of transgender athletes in traditionally female spaces have tightened since the last Summer Games, with little to no grey area left, according to a report.

The World Athletics Council, the governing body for track, barred men who went through puberty from high-level female competition in March, which followed a 2022 decision by FINA, world swimming’s governing body, to only allow biologically male swimmers who transitioned before age 12 to compete.
The World Athletics Council was one derived from the "overarching need to protect the female category," federation president Sebastian Coe said.

FINA's president shared a similar sentiment, when that body adopted its new "gender inclusion policy."

"This is not saying that people are encouraged to transition by the age of 12. It’s what the scientists are saying, that if you transition after the start of puberty, you have an advantage, which is unfair,” James Pearce, a spokesman for FINA president Husain Al-Musallam, said.

"They're not saying everyone should transition by age 11; that’s ridiculous. You can’t transition by that age in most countries, and hopefully, you wouldn’t be encouraged to. Basically, what they’re saying is that it is not feasible for people who have transitioned to compete without having an advantage."

Additional bodies, including the International Cycling Union [UCI], have also established safeguards for female sports.

In July, the UCI blocked biological men who completed puberty and offered a new "men/open" category for those who fail to meet the new gender standards.

Transgender athletes who would have previously qualified to compete against biological females have not taken the new protections for female athletes well.

"The only safeguard transgender women have is their right to live as they wish, and we are being refused that; we are being hounded," French sprinter Halba Diouf said.

[Fun CH]

OK to be trans and be welcomed by society...

You have already started that you don't want trans women using women's bathrooms. So really not welcoming into society.

Sports associations already have rules that address these issues. No need for another political wedge issue that targets minority groups that has the effect of increasing exclusionary practices and violence against that minority group.

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I am not "anti" trans. The question here is about the sports world and my reasonable questions. Is it fair to have a person who has a structural and musculature advantage to compete against women?

Exactly... OK to be trans and be welcomed by society... Just do not competing in women's sports where you have an obvious physical advantage. Be respectful and considerate of all the cis-women sisters that have fought to bring their sports to a level equal to that of the mens.

Physically advantaged trans women is cis-women sports is a purposeful selfish and derogatory act trying to justify itself through illogical "moral" arguments.

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I am not "anti" trans. The question here is about the sports world and my reasonable questions. Is it fair to have a person who has a structural and musculature advantage to compete against women?

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No need for words picture says it all

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As a child I was exposed to Episcopalian ideals that accepts women as leaders of the church, allows priests to be married, and has a policy of inclusion.

Ray, who seems intent on posting an anti-trans agenda here, dismisses those inclusive Christian teachings as a "word salad'.

Not sure the "teachings" mention gender-affirming hormone therapies and surgeries. These are new recent terms and methods created by man. In my opinion, screwing around with creation. Of course this can all be debated ad nauseam by varying interpretations of man. Google makes it easy.

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The question is if it is fair to have a transgender person participate in women's sports? Is it an unfair advantage, due to body structure, muscalature, etc? Even changing over to a woman, the body's structure and strength is there.
Sometimes I wish I had the strength of a man.

in pro sports should a political party with an anti-trans agenda decide who competes or should the governing sports body in charge of that particular sport decide the rules?

Let's not use this sports issue to further the anti trans agenda that is currently being put forth by right wing politicians trying to appeal to their religious base by demonizing people who need love and acceptance for who they are just like all of us.

As a child I was exposed to Episcopalian ideals that accepts women as leaders of the church, allows priests to be married, and has a policy of inclusion.

Ray, who seems intent on posting an anti-trans agenda here, dismisses those inclusive Christian teachings as a "word salad'.

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Why are you using another countries anti-trans agenda to promote and support an anti trans agenda here in the US?

Typical Chris global expansion of subject to fit his agenda... Chris has a life full of agendas... One dimensional... Probably meets the definition of "shrill" that was mentioned in the Methow Valley News article "Barely A Ripple"...

Not an anti-trans agenda... They can exist and live their lives... Just not competing in women's sports. They are being selfish and inconsiderate of all the cis-women that have fought to bring their sports to a level equal to that of the mens. Trans women is cis women sports is a purposeful derogatory act trying to justify itself through illogical "moral" arguments.

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The question is if it is fair to have a transgender person participate in women's sports? Is it an unfair advantage, due to body structure, muscalature, etc? Even changing over to a woman, the body's structure and strength is there.
Sometimes I wish I had the strength of a man.

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Why are you using another countries anti-trans agenda to promote and support an anti trans agenda here in the US?

Turns out NZF and the other right-wing populist party also have been accused of a racist agenda. No surprise there right?

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-paci ... 023-10-03/

"Both the right-wing ACT Party and populist New Zealand First are promoting policies that would rewind changes that occurred in New Zealand under the Labour government to better acknowledge Maori as the country’s first people.

ACT has railed against "co-governance" or the sharing of some management between the state and indigenous people, and has vowed to wind back the use of Maori language in everyday life and dismantle the Maori Health Authority, which was set up to counter systemic disadvantage"


"The National Party is not on board with many of the ACT and New Zealand First's policies but has not ruled out winding back some Indigenous resources such as the Maori Health Authority."

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Next Impulse Sports
One country looks to ban all transgender athletes
Story by Kevin Harrish

As people and politicians in the United States continue to debate about whether or not transgender women and girls should be allowed to compete in women and girls’ sports, one country appears to be moving towards banning transgender athletes in all women’s public sports throughout the country.

According to a report from Liam Napier of the New Zealand Herald, the country of New Zealand is threatening to withhold millions of dollars of public funding from New Zealand sports bodies if they don’t agree to block transgender women from competing in women’s sports. This would apply not just to the professional level, but at the amateur sports level, as well.

The policy, which is led by New Zealand First, says it is to “ensure publicly funded sporting bodies support fair competition that is not compromised by rules relating to gender.” New Zealand First spokesperson Andy Foster says the push is “about fairness and safety in sport for women.”
Previously, this was an issue that the country seemed to leave to individual sporting organizations to work through and decide what to do, but this is now an attempt by the New Zealand government to make a move on this issue at a national level.

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Plenty of grace to let all be who they want to be... Hopefully they have grace to not negatively impact the lives of others...

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Thought this would be a good place and season to drop this verse from "Joy to World" Perhaps a reminder.

"He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders, of His love"

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https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/ ... cf28&ei=29

Sportskeeda
"The power of public opinion & accountability" - Riley Gaines on University of Washington revoking transgender volleyball player's scholarship
Story by Janhavi Shinde

Riley Gaines recently criticized a transgender volleyball player competing against cisgender women and expressed her content after the latter was denied a scholarship.

Tate Drageset, a transgender volleyball player, was about to secure one of the twelve D1 volleyball scholarships that are offered to women. Drageset was presented the California Interscholastic Federation's Division 5 Player of the 2022-23 season award after she contributed to two USA volleyball teams that won national titles.

In June 2023, the 17-year-old reportedly made a verbal commitment to enroll in the University of Washington to earn one of the twelve scholarships extended over four years, with only two or three being offered per year.

A few days ago, Gaines condemned Drageset for snatching away an opportunity for female athletes. She also recommended the University of Washington to overturn the scholarship.

"Male takes women's volleyball scholarship at ... a soon-to-be Big 10 school Stealing the already few opportunities for women at the collegiate level. How can he be proud? @UWVolleyball should rescind the scholarship if they really care about women. He can play with the men," Gaines wrote.

The former NCAA swimmer recently updated the fans that the University of Washington apparently revoked the scholarship, stating that the coaches were supposedly unaware of the player's sex.

"It's alleged that @UWVolleyball rescinded the scholarship from the male vying to play with the women. Sources say the coaches had NO idea he is a male. He and his family concealed his sex throughout the entering recruiting process. The power of public opinion & accountability," the former swimmer said.

"This happens a lot for something that never happens" -Riley Gaines after transgender athlete sets new collegiate school record in women's category

Riley Gaines expressed her opinions after Sadie Schreiner, a transgender woman, set a new school record in the women's category for 300m even during the last meet ahead of the winter break at Rochester Institute of Technology at Nazareth University in New York, on December 8, 2023.

Schreiner secured the top position after clocking a time of 41.80 seconds. The trans athlete left behind two female athletes to set a new record. Gaines subsequently slammed the athlete, stating:

"New collegiate school record in women's 300m at !!! Except it was set by a male. This happens a lot for something that never happens," she continued.

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Exactly one of the major issues... Good grief...

FOX News
Transgender swimmer, 50, sparks outrage in Canada after competing against teens, sharing locker room
Story by Paulina Dedaj

The parents of young female athletes have spoken out after a 50-year-old transgender swimmer competed in women’s events and shared a locker room with children during a meet in Canada this month.

Several parents spoke to the Toronto Sun following the 2023 Trojan Cup in Barrie, Ontario, on Dec. 1-3 over concerns that Melody Wiseheart, a transgender swimmer, competed in events with teenage swimmers and shared a locker room with their children.

Wiseheart, 50, competed in several events at the East Bayfield Community Centre, where the meet was held, including the women’s 1500m freestyle for athletes 16 years and older. Wiseheart placed second in that event with a time of 21:14.30, according to the official results posted to Swimming Canada’s website.

The age groups for the entire meet ranged from 8 years and younger to 16 and older.

"It’s all so confusing for the kids," one parent told the Toronto Sun. "No one is comfortable. Everybody is accepting of all people, but them swimming against our kids and being in the locker room with them is not appropriate."

But Swimming Canada, the governing body for competitive swimming in the country, told Fox News Digital that access to changing rooms "is determined by facility/municipality policies in accordance with applicable law."

"We must comply with both provincial law and municipal policy aligning with the human rights policies on preventing discrimination. Swim meets are normally conducted in facilities open to the public, and minors routinely share change room space with adults," the statement continued.

With regard to questions over different ages and/or genders being seeded in the same heat, Swimming Canada stated "There are, however, a variety of situations where this can occur in open meets seeded by entry times."

Separately, Swim Ontario, the provincial governing body for the sport, also told the Toronto Sun that it "investigated a concern related to an adult competing against swimmers aged 12-14" for a different meet in October and found that the Richmond Hill Aquatic Club, which hosted the meet, "acted appropriately in hosting the competition according to Swimming Canada and Swim Ontario policies and procedures, including the Swimming Canada National Registration Procedures and Rules Manual and The Swimming Rules of Swimming Canada."

Swim Ontario also clarified that athletes competing in an "open category" are seeded by entry time, regardless of age, which can result in adults swimming in heats against minors.

Wiseheart also competed in that swim meet.

World Aquatics, the international governing body for the sport, effectively banned male-to-female transgender athletes from competing in women’s events in 2022 after updating its policy to only allow swimmers who transitioned before age 12 or the early stages of puberty.

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"Male becomes women's national champion, where have we seen this before" - Riley Gaines on transgender cyclist winning Cyclocross Championships
Story by Janhavi Shinde •

Riley Gaines has consistently advocated for the safety of women in sports by appealing for the exclusion of transgender women from women's sports. She recently called out Kylie Small, a trans woman, after the latter secured victory in the women's category of the National Cyclocross Championships.

Small secured the top spot in the women's category of single-speed, recording a time of 38.19 seconds while leaving behind Jennifer Malik, a female cyclist. The 2023 National Cyclocross Championships are being held at Joe Creason Park, Louisville, Kentucky, from December 5 to December 10.

Small competed in the men's under-23 category in last season's national championships, where the cyclist had to settle in the 44th position. Then known as Kyle Small, the cyclist recorded a time of 33:09 seconds.
Riley Gaines slammed the trans cyclist after she secured the top position on the podium this year.

Along with Small, Gaines also called out the president of the National Women's Law Center, Fatima Goss Graves, for a statement she made during the Title IX hearing that pushed for the inclusion of trans athletes in women's sports.

"Male becomes women's national champion. Where have we seen this before? In the wise words of @nwlc president, the girls who fell short should just learn to lose gracefully," Gaines wrote on X.

Riley Gaines has a cameo role in the American streaming platform Daily Wire+'s first feature-length film, Lady Ballers.

The streaming platform recently released a three-minute-long trailer that shows the story of a coach encouraging male athletes to identify as transgender athletes to compete in women's sports to seal multiple victories.

Apart from Gaines, the cast includes the CEO of The Daily Wire, Jeremy Boreing, David Cone, and Matt Walsch. While some found the trailer funny, others marked it as transphobic and misogynistic.

The trailer shows a trans athlete defeating women in weightlifting and shot put competitions. Another scene showcases a trans athlete easily lifting and striking a female athlete on the ground in a wrestling competition.

One of the scenes even depicts a player identifying as trans age to compete in a baseball league against children. The trailer showcases several scenes where a trans athlete dominates in women's categories. It commences with the quote "the most triggering comedy of the year."

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If 18 is the legal age of consent for legal matters, then 18 should be the age when a person is able to make these "life altering" decisions.
This world has gone crazy

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And in the State of Ohio...
"House Bill 68 would prevent trans athletes from participating in Ohio women’s sports and would block doctors from providing gender-affirming care to trans youth."

Riley Gaines testifies in support of Ohio bill blocking trans athletes and gender-affirming care
House Bill 68 would prevent trans athletes from participating in Ohio women’s sports and would block doctors from providing gender-affirming care to trans youth.
BY: MEGAN HENRY - NOVEMBER 29, 2023 4:50 AM - Ohio Capitol Journal

A former University of Kentucky swimmer who has been very outspoken against competing and sharing a locker room with transgender athlete Lia Thomas testified in support of a bill that would prevent trans athletes from participating in Ohio women’s sports.

Riley Gaines told the Ohio Senate Government Oversight Committee how her and Thomas both had a time of 1:43.40 during the 200-yard championship freestyle in 2022 — resulting in a tie for fifth place.

“Yet, NCAA officials told me that the trophy belonged to Thomas,” Gaines said in her testimony. “The officials claimed this was necessary for public relations. I was shocked. I felt betrayed and belittled, reduced to a photo-op. But my feelings did not matter. What mattered to the NCAA were the feelings of a biological male.”

In addition to the trans athlete ban, House Bill 68 would also block doctors from providing gender-affirming care to trans youth, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy. The bill would ban physicians from performing gender reassignment surgery on a minor, but many opponents have testified that no Ohio children’s hospital currently performs gender-affirming surgery on those under 18.

Gender-affirming care is supported by every major medical organization in the United States.

Rep. Gary Click, R-Vickery, is the sponsor of HB 68, which passed the House in June.

Nineteen people submitted proponent testimony and some talked about the physical differences between men and women.

“Science tells us that, on average, male bodies have about a 10% athletic advantage over female bodies,” said May Mailman, a senior fellow with Independent Women’s Law Center.

Lia Thomas
Gaines was not the only person to talk about Thomas during her testimony during Tuesday’s committee meeting.

Cynthia Millen, a former USA Swimming official who resigned in protest over Thomas competing, also spoke in support of HB 68.

“I felt that was wrong,” she said. “Everything in swimming is based on fairness. … it just went against everything that I had ever loved about swimming.”

Thomas was the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship and has wound up in the center of a national debate over who can compete in women’s sports.

Previously, Thomas competed on Penn’s men’s swimming team for three seasons before joining the women’s team.

“The inclusion of male athletes in women’s sports not only takes opportunities from female players,” Gaines said. “It puts women and girls at greater risk of injury.”

Transgender athletes in Ohio
There were only six transgender high school female student athletes in Ohio, the Capital Journal previously reported in the spring.

Under the Ohio High School Athletic Association, if a trans girl wants to play on a team with cis girls, she must go through hormone treatments for at least one year or show no physical or physiological advantages.

HB 68 would prevent males from playing female sports, but everyone would still be able to play on co-ed teams.

Gender affirming care
Detransitioner Richard Anumene started identifying as a transgender woman in 2014 and had facial feminization surgery in November 2020 and vaginoplasty in March 2021. However, in July 2021, Anumene regretted the surgeries and began detransitioning.

“It has ruined my life,” Anumene said. “I can’t reverse my vaginoplasty or facial feminization surgery, and the consequences of these surgeries are permanent. The realization of what had been done to me led to unprecedented mental breakdowns and substance abuse to try to alleviate my mental distress.”

Corinna Cohn, now 48, started estrogen treatments at 18 and had sex reassignment surgery at 19.

“I have gained numerous insights over the past thirty years, with perhaps the most critical being that children lack the capacity to envision their adult desires and wellbeing accurately,” Cohn said. “It is our moral obligation to protect the well-being of Ohio’s gender-diverse youth and ensure that they receive the care and consideration they deserve.”

Former NCAA swimmer testifies in favor of Ohio’s trans athlete, healthcare ban
by: David Rees - Local Ohio NBC TV
Posted: Nov 29, 2023 / 05:30 AM EST

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines spoke at the Ohio Statehouse on Tuesday in favor of a bill banning transgender minors from receiving certain healthcare and trans girls from taking part in female athletics.

House Bill 68 — the “Save Adolescents from Experimentation Act” — would bar healthcare professionals from providing treatment known as gender-affirming care to trans children in the state. Lawmakers amended the legislation to include House Bill 6, named the “Save Women’s Sports Act,” to prohibit trans girls from taking part in female athletics and override the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s trans student-athlete policy.

Nineteen supporters submitted testimony for the bill’s second hearing on Tuesday in the Senate Government Oversight Committee including Gaines, who has campaigned against the participation of trans athletes in women’s sports.

Gaines testified she competed against Lia Thomas, a trans swimmer from the University of Pennsylvania, in the 200-yard freestyle at the 2022 NCAA swimming championships. When the two tied for fifth place, Gaines claimed NCAA officials opted to award the trophy to Thomas.

“The female athletes who objected to Thomas’ participation in women’s swimming were told to remain silent,” said Gaines. “Lia Thomas was not a one-off. Across the country and across various sports, female athletes are losing not only titles and awards to males but also roster spots and opportunities to compete.”

If passed, H.B. 68 would allow an athlete to sue for relief or damages if they are “deprived” of an athletic opportunity by a trans girl, and prohibit a government or athletic association from taking action against schools that enforce the ban.


Gaines also challenged the OSHAA’s claim that six trans high school students took part in athletics during the 2022-23 school year. The OSHAA asserts that 19 trans girls — 10 in middle school and nine in high school — have participated in girls’ sports since its policy was implemented eight years ago.

“It’s underreported, the number is certainly more than six,” said Gaines. “I’ve had more people in the state of Ohio reach out to me specifically who say they’re scared to speak out about this, because they don’t want to be reprimanded.”

Cynthia Millen, of Toledo, testified on Tuesday she resigned in protest from a more than 30-year career as a swim official after Thomas competed in a University of Akron meet in 2021. Millen said Thomas was only allowed to compete for the women’s team because she suppressed her testosterone level.

“Bodies compete against bodies; ‘gender identities’ do not compete and have no logical place in the determination of sports competition or team makeup,” said Millen. “No amount of surgery, or drug toxicity, even to the point of permanent infertility, can ever make it fair for a male to compete against a female.”

Beyond athletics, H.B. 68 would also discipline medical professionals who provide gender transition procedures, like hormone replacement therapy and reconstructive surgery, to a minor. Rep. Gary Click (R-Vickery), the bill’s primary sponsor, argues Ohioans under the age of 18 are “incapable of providing the informed consent necessary to make those very risky and life-changing decisions.”

Elizabeth McIntosh, a family medicine physician from Johnstown, echoed Click and said neuroscience suggests the teenage brain is not mature enough to make such decisions. McIntosh noted several lawsuits, including by Chloe Cloe, an 18-year-old from California who is suing Kaiser Permanente for a gender-affirming surgery that was performed when she was 13.

“If reaching maturity is essential for informed, responsible consent to sexual activity, it is essential for informed, responsible consent to procedures that affect sexuality and sexual organs,” said McIntosh.

Jeannette Cooper, a representative from Partners for Ethical Care, testified she runs an online group of parents who do not affirm their children’s identity. She said it is “impossible to be born in the wrong body” and that administering wrong-sex hormones and removing healthy body parts should never be an option.


“I am not aware of any children of parents in our group who have committed suicide because they were not affirmed,” said Cooper. “On the contrary, we observe hundreds of children who recover from gender dysphoria and thrive once they don’t need the crutch of a transgender identity.”

Still, the consensus among medical providers — including Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the American Academy of Pediatrics — is that gender-affirming care is an evidence-based practice with a proven track record of improving health outcomes for trans and nonbinary youth. The Ohio Children’s Hospital Association called the bill a “misguided effort” that could exacerbate harm to LGBTQ+ youth by denying healthcare to a population that’s already more susceptible to mental health disorders.

Siobhan Boyd-Nelson, deputy director of Equality Ohio, agrees and said the legislation would add to the “horrible toll” inflicted on Ohio’s LGBTQ+ youth population. Youth who identify as LGBTQ+ are more than four times as likely as their peers to attempt suicide, with more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ youth seriously considering suicide each year in the U.S., according to The Trevor Project,

“I want the ability, as a parent, to have access to any care that my young person would need, and that should be a decision between myself and my child’s doctors, the Statehouse has no place in that,” said Boyd-Nelson.

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Whole heartedly agree Ray and think the ruling should be applied to ALL sports.

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"A top amateur cyclist says his sport is less inclusive and welcoming than ever after it banned transgender women from competing in the female category."

I disagree and think the "Open" category is a fair solution for post puberty transgender women and preserves the integrity and true competitiveness of female sports.

Trans-women ban 'fails cycling community'
Story by By Tom Williams - BBC Sport, Cambridgeshire •
14h

A top amateur cyclist says his sport is less inclusive and welcoming than ever after it banned transgender women from competing in the female category.

Josh Jones, 31, from Cambridge, believes British Cycling's new rules "fail the cycling community".

From next year, these athletes will compete in an "open" category with men.

British Cycling said it aimed to "promote equality, diversity and inclusion, whilst prioritising fairness".

Jones, who has been competing for 12 years, has 44 wins across all disciplines and is currently 13th in the British Cycling National Rankings.

He believes he is the first and only openly gay rider to hold a world ranking in any cycling discipline, but recent moves within the sport have left him dismayed.
"The three main governing bodies - British Cycling, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Cycling Time Trials - have all introduced new policies that prevent transgender people from participating in the sport authentically," he said.

In July, the UCI - world cycling's governing body - said anyone who had transitioned after male puberty could compete in a "men/open" category but not in women's events.

Cycling Time Trials said it was "convinced that after undergoing male puberty, a rider will retain strength, stamina and physique which will give them a permanent advantage over someone who has not".

But Jones said: "An open category is essentially just a different label being used for the men's category. It does not respect people's identity. It denies that transgender women are women."

He believes the governing bodies should consider the "social impact of excluding transgender woman from competing authentically".

The changes will prevent riders such as Emily Bridges, the country's highest-profile transgender cyclist, potentially being part of the British women's team.

On social media, she called the move a "violent act" by a "failed organisation".

Jones, who defends his Eastern Regional Cyclo-Cross title in Cambridge next month, said: "It's not how anyone in this situation would like to be treated, especially when you consider that current medical science does not provide a convincing argument that transgender women do retain an advantage."

He rides for ALL IN racing, an initiative promoting increased visibility and inclusion for LGBT+ riders, which he launched in 2021.

"Two of the best cyclists in the country, the Yates brothers [Adam and Simon], ride for professional teams that are sponsored by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia where homosexuality is prohibited," he said.

"Given the regulation change, excluding some of my friends, teammates and other LGBT+ community members, it's hard not to feel an increased emotional dissociation when watching or taking part in races. It's made me feel more guarded than ever before."

Jones is likely to step back from racing next year, as fighting for inclusion for his friends, teammates and other LGBT+ community members has become more important to him.

He is urging the the cycling authorities, in particular British Cycling, to provide further clarity on how and when it will review this policy and hopes to engage with them.

Faye McGinty, of the Women's Rights Network, said: "For many years women have been frustrated that men who identify either as non-binary or as women are taking medals, places on podiums and even prize money in women's cycling so we welcome the UCI decision.

'It's important to point out that this does not mean these athletes are banned from cycling. They can still compete in the men's and even the open categories, but the women's event must be protected for the sport to remain fair and safe."

British Cycling conducted a nine-month review and consultation before introducing the new rules.

"We understand that this will be particularly difficult for many of our trans and non-binary riders. We will continue to assess our policy annually and more frequently as the medical sciences develops," said CEO Jon Dutton.

He also reassured non-competitive riders that cycling remains "a positive and welcoming environment".

The UCI said that, due to "remaining scientific uncertainties" around hormone therapy, the rule changes were necessary "as a precautionary measure to protect the female class and ensure equal opportunities".