<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Cynical cycling</h2>

She started cycling at nine years old, and was just ten when she started competing. "I've always found solaceComfort in times of sadness or worry. in the outdoors and being connected," she says. "As a kid, cycling was the thing that made me happiest in the world."

Emily Bridges had a sparkling career ahead of her. She won her first national title in 2019 and collected an impressive arrayAn impressive display or wide variety of a particular type of thing. of trophies in the years that followed. But she was excluded from competing in the British National OmniumA multiple race event in track cycling. Championships in 2022 after cycling's governing body, the UCI, judged her ineligible to compete in the women's section of the competition.

Bridges came out as transgenderSomeone whose gender identity (what they feel inside) does not match the gender identity they were assigned at birth (based on their biology). in 2020, and has undergone hormone therapy since then to meet the regulations set by British Cycling for competing in the women's category. But just days before she was due to compete against women for the first time, she was notified that the world governing body could not sanction her taking part.

She has become embroiledInvolved in a difficult or complicated situation. in a global debate. Some believe that transgender women should not be allowed to compete against their cisgenderA person whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth. The term was first used in academic articles in the 1990s. counterparts, arguing that the biological inequalities are insurmountableToo great to be beaten..

Increasingly, sporting bodies are setting stringentVery strict. regulations for their transgender competitors, or banning them outright. Many sporting boards have set regulations for testosteroneThe hormone that causes people to develop male sexual characteristics. Women also produce some testosterone. levels in their female competitors. Average testosterone levels in women are around 0.3 to 2.4 nanomoles per litre - ten times lower than in men - and it is suggested that higher testosterone levels provide an athletic advantage.

Many believe that this advantage can be reduced or removed through a prolongedContinuing for a long time. course of hormoneChemicals carried in the bloodstream that alter the way your body's systems act.  therapy. But some argue that even when testosterone is reduced, advantages in height, physiqueThe form or build of a person's body. and muscle mass may remain.

There is no scientific consensusGeneral agreement. It was originally a Latin word., and each study seems to find different results. A 2020 study by the British Journal of Sports Medicine stated that people who go through male pubertyThe time in a person's life when they go through physical and hormonal changes, changing from being a child to being an adult. have greater heart and lung capacity, more muscle mass and lower body fat, and that this can never be balanced out.¹

But a more recent report from the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport concluded that trans women that have begun testosterone suppressionKeeping or holding something back. have no clear biological advantage over cisgender women.²

Some have proposed three categories: two for cisgender men and women, and one open category. But transgender people make up just 0.5% of the population in the UK,³ meaning that such a category would be impossible to make competitive.

Moreover, some say, variationA change in amount or level. in biological advantage is a normal part of competitive sport. For example, left-handed people, who make up just 10% of the population, have an advantage in a wide range of sports.

Some say the backlash against trans sportswomen comes down to hate and discrimination, not an interest in fairness. When the International Chess Federation (FIDE) announced a ban on transgender women from competing in its women's events last year, it was described by one British MPMember of Parliament. There are 650 MPs representing people in different areas of the UK. as "ridiculous and offensive to women".⁴

And it affects cisgender women and intersexPeople born with both female and male reproductive anatomy. people too. South African runner Caster SemenyaA South African runner with an intersex condition, although she prefers to describe herself as "a different kind of woman". , who is a three-time 800 metres world champion and Olympic gold winner, has not been able to compete since 2019 because the governing body, World Athletics, required her to suppress her testosterone levels.⁵

Should sex matter in sport?

Yes: Sports categories have always been gendered for a reason. Women have fought hard to be judged fairly in separate categories to men, and the integrity of these categories should be preserved.

No: Many studies suggest that hormone therapy and testosterone suppressants create a level playing field between cisgender and transgender women. Trans people should be allowed to compete in the category that aligns best with their gender identity.

Or... For now, even scientists are decided on this issue. As a result, many decisions are based on political opinions - rather than scientific evidence.

Solace - Comfort in times of sadness or worry.

Array - An impressive display or wide variety of a particular type of thing.

Omnium - A multiple race event in track cycling.

Transgender - Someone whose gender identity (what they feel inside) does not match the gender identity they were assigned at birth (based on their biology).

Embroiled - Involved in a difficult or complicated situation.

Cisgender - A person whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth. The term was first used in academic articles in the 1990s.

Insurmountable - Too great to be beaten.

Stringent - Very strict.

Testosterone - The hormone that causes people to develop male sexual characteristics. Women also produce some testosterone.

Prolonged - Continuing for a long time.

Hormone - Chemicals carried in the bloodstream that alter the way your body's systems act. 

Physique - The form or build of a person's body.

Consensus - General agreement. It was originally a Latin word.

Puberty - The time in a person's life when they go through physical and hormonal changes, changing from being a child to being an adult.

Suppression - Keeping or holding something back.

Variation - A change in amount or level.

MP - Member of Parliament. There are 650 MPs representing people in different areas of the UK.

Intersex - People born with both female and male reproductive anatomy.

Caster Semenya - A South African runner with an intersex condition, although she prefers to describe herself as "a different kind of woman".