World Cycling Body prohibits transgender athletes from participating in women’s events.

The International Sports Cycling Governing Body Bans Transgender Males from Women’s International Events

The international sports cycling governing body issued a statement Friday banning males who identify as transgender from participating in women’s international events.

Biological males who “transitioned after [male] puberty” will not be allowed to participate in events, Union Cycliste Internationale, the governing body for sports cycling, said Friday. The rules go into effect on July 17.

“From now on, female transgender athletes who have transitioned after [male] puberty will be prohibited from participating in women’s events on the UCI International Calendar—in all categories—in the various disciplines,” the statement read.

The organization decided earlier this month that the current “state of scientific knowledge” does not prove transgender hormone treatments would reduce the biological advantage males have.

“Given the current state of scientific knowledge does not guarantee such equality of opportunity between transgender female athletes and cisgender female participants, it was not possible, as a precautionary measure, to authorize the former to race in the female categories,” UCI president David Lappartient said.

The decision comes after a transgender biological male in South Korea, Na Hwa-rin, made headlines by participating in a cycling race to prove males have a biological advantage.

“I am not honored. I am not proud of myself at all,” Na Hwa-rin said. “I believe other transgender athletes would feel the same way. They may not want to admit it, but they’re being selfish. There is no honor as an athlete in that.”

Na said the point of competing in the race was to “stir controversy” and “get my story heard by competing.”

Last month in North Carolina, biological male Austin Killips won a women’s cycling competition five minutes ahead of the runner-up.