The cycling organization revoked one trans cyclist’s silver medal for not meeting new rules on how trans athletes can compete.
A day after winning second place in a USA Cycling event, trans athlete Leia Genis saw her distinction taken away. During the USA Cycling Elite Track National Championship in Pennsylvania on July 27, Genis won second place in the Individual Pursuit event.
Less than 24 hours later, a USA Cycling official informed Genis that she would lose that position because she failed to meet recently updated requirements for transgender athletes. The organization also barred her from competing in further events at the championship.
In an official statement, USA Cycling said that Genis failed to provide the documents necessary for competing in the elite women’s category. That category requires Genis to meet guidelines on trans athletes that Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) — cycling’s governing body — approved in June.
Those rules went into effect for USA Cycling on July 1 and require trans athletes in elite women’s categories to show proof of testosterone levels below 2.5 nmol/L for 24 months. According to USA Cycling, Genis was “made aware” of the policy in March 2022.
When the organization reviewed Genis’ eligibility for the elite event, a representative found that she had not completed the “required steps.”
“As a result, USA Cycling refunded Ms. Genis’ registration fees, vacated her event results, and removed her from further events at the 2022 USA Cycling Elite & Junior Track National Championships,” USA Cycling said.
Writing on Instagram, Genis called the move by USA Cycling “blatant” transphobia.
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