Belgian court rules transgender cyclist’s exclusion was discriminatory
A court in Brussels has ruled that the exclusion of a transgender female cyclist from women’s competitions was discriminatory and lacked scientific justification.
The case was brought against an international cycling federation and the Belgian national body, challenging a 2023 rule that required trans women to have transitioned before the age of 12 in order to compete. This led to the cyclist’s licence being revoked.
The court found the rule to be disproportionate and impracticable, effectively excluding almost all trans women. The court also noted that the cycling federation’s own medical director had acknowledged a lack of scientific evidence that trans women retain performance advantages post-transition.
Compensation
The ruling nullifies the regulation and obliges the federation to compensate the athlete. The ruling is immediately enforceable, though the organisation may appeal.
Liesbet Stevens of Belgium’s Institute for the Equality of Women and Men, which supported the case, welcomed the decision as a crucial step towards the inclusion of trans people in sport.
"The current approach lacks scientific rigour and fails to respect individual rights"
“This case is about more than just one athlete,” Stevens said. "It’s about ensuring that trans women are not excluded from women’s competitions on the basis of prejudice or unfounded assumptions. The current approach lacks scientific rigour and fails to respect individual rights. The Institute will continue to defend equal and non-discriminatory access to sport for all."
© BELGA PHOTO LOU LAMPAERT
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