"Why alienate 50 per cent of their audience?": Daley Thompson slams British Cycling for transgender athlete policy

Olympic medallists from Games past Daley Thompson and Sharron Davies have criticised British Cycling's transgender athlete policy during an empassioned debate sparked by the governing body sharing its "zero-tolerance" to hate message on social media.

Thompson, who won decathlon gold in 1980 and 1984, was responding to British Cycling tweeting an updated version of its transgender policy, in which it stated: "We take a zero-tolerance approach to instances of hate being targeted at individuals because of their views of gender identity."

> British Cycling launch consultation on transgender policy

British Cycling's policy states that members should "accept all participants in the gender they present" and that anyone breaching the guidelines, which includes "stigmatisation or discrimination" against a competitor, will face "appropriate action".

The two-time Olympic gold medallist asked why the policy was "prepared to alienate at least 50 per cent of their audience?"

"More importantly why would they do it so easily. Whose interests are they really looking after?" Thompson tweeted.

Davies, who won silver in swimming at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, went further, accusing the governing body of not looking after its female athletes.

"It's your job to look after female athletes as well as male ones," she said. "The very least you could do is listen and work with the actual science. I will remind and remind you of your position in years to come."

We take a zero-tolerance approach to instances of hate being targeted at individuals because of their views or gender identity. This thread will be moderated, and if you're aware of inappropriate or offensive behaviour by our members please email compliance [at] britishcycling.org.uk.

— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) January 27, 2022

In May, British Cycling announced it would be conducting a five-week consultation into its transgender and non-binary policy.

The policy was first published in October 2020 and received backing from former professional cyclist Philippa York.