UCI reviews policy on transgender cyclists after Canadian athlete wins human rights case

World cycling’s governing body, the UCI, has said it will “review and revise” its policies towards transgender athletes after Canadian cyclist Kristen Worley won a case that she had brought under human rights law.

Worley, who underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2001, won a lawsuit last year that she had brought against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Anti-doping Agency (WADA).

She had claimed that strict rules governing the use by transgender athletes of testosterone, which meant a 10-month wait and a dosage below the amount she needed, violated her human rights.

A tribunal in Ontario agreed, and now Cycling Canada, the Ontario Cycling Association and the UCI have all said that they will review their procedures, reports Inside the Games.

Besides drawing up standards and guidelines relating to XY athletes, they will also be undertaking awareness and educational programmes in relation to transgender athletes.

Worley said: “Today, I am satisfied that the sport of cycling in Canada and internationally have committed to help advocate for issues facing XY female athletes.

“My vision encourages sport and the Olympic Movement to do what it is supposed to do best: harmonising and celebrating through sport the magic and enormity of our human diversity.”

She added that she would campaign for the IOC and WADA to make more changes in favour of transgender athletes.

Last year, American cyclist Jillian Bearden made history as she became the first transgender woman to finish first in her category at a bike race, the 106-mile El Tour de Tucson.

> Transgender cyclist is first female finisher at Arizona race

The highest profile cyclist to have transitioned from male to female is Robert Millar, who in 1984 was the first Briton to win a jersey at the Tour de France after clinching the mountains classification, and who joined ITV4’s commentary team for this year’s race under her new name, Philippa York.

> Philippa York, who as Robert Millar was first Briton to win a jersey at Tour de France, joins ITV4 commentary team