British Cycling is now banning transgender athletes from participating in their races ... just a week after trans cyclist Emily Bridges was disqualified from the women's championship.
It's a bit surprising because British Cycling has a Transgender and Non-binary Participation Policy that seemingly allows trans cyclists to compete.
But, since the incident with Bridges -- when the Union Cycliste Internationale banned her from the April 2 race because she was registered as a male cyclist -- the board voted this week to suspend the policy.
"As a result of this, on Wednesday 6 April the British Cycling Board of Directors voted in favor of an immediate suspension of the current policy, pending a full review, which will be initiated in the coming weeks," BC said in a statement.
British Cycling says its initial policy is "unfair on all women riders and poses a challenge to the integrity of racing."
Bridges' mother was not happy when she received the ruling via email ... saying on Twitter, "Dumped by email."
"We've just received this in our inbox. We will be making a statement at some point during the next 24 hrs."
British Cycling says they will work "tirelessly" to make sure their new policy remains "free of hate, discrimination and abuse in all forms, and that we prioritize the welfare of riders, volunteers, event organizers, commissaries and others that our sport can’t continue without."
Dumped by email
— Sandy 💜💙❤ 🏳️🌈 Ally She/Her (@sullivansa1) April 8, 2022
We've just received this in our in box
We will be making a statement at some point during the next 24 hrs pic.twitter.com/yXFhLHRHLq
"As an organization, we remain committed to ensuring that transgender and non-binary people are welcomed, supported and celebrated in the cycling community, and the inclusion of these groups within non-competitive activities remains unaffected by the suspension."
Since her ineligibility, 21-year-old Bridges says she has been harassed by British media and had to deactivate her social media to stop "targeted abuse."