Transgender cyclist Emily Bridges says she has been “harassed and demonised” after being told she cannot compete in the National Omnium Championships.
However, she still has “little clarity” around her “alleged ineligibility”.
“No-one should have to choose between being who they are and participating in the sport that they love,” she said in a statement on social media.
Bridges says that, for the last six months, she has been in contact with British Cycling and the sport’s world governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), over the eligibility criteria she needed to meet to compete this Saturday.
British Cycling’s transgender regulations require riders to have had testosterone levels below five nanomoles per litre for a 12-month period prior to competition.
Bridges says she has provided both British Cycling and the UCI with evidence that she meets the criteria “including that my testosterone level has been far below the limit prescribed by the regulations for the last 12 months”.
The UCI told British Cycling that, because international ranking points are allocated at national championship events, Bridges’ participation could only be allowed once her eligibility to race in international competitions is confirmed. That process is currently ongoing.
British Cycling said on Wednesday they had been informed by the UCI that “under their current guidelines Emily is not eligible to participate” this weekend.
But Bridges said: “Despite the public announcement I still have little clarity around their finding of my ineligibility.
“I am an athlete and I just want to race competitively again. I hope that they will reconsider their decision in line with the regulations.”
She added: “I’ve been relentlessly harassed and demonised by those who have a specific agenda to push.
“They attack anything that isn’t the norm. This is without care for the wellbeing of individuals or marginalised groups.”
Bridges says her privacy has also been “totally violated” and she has received “targeted abuse” on social media, “despite the fact I have not yet raced in the female category”.