Broadcaster Mike Parry has hit out at transgender cyclist Emily Bridges after she announced her intention to fight against a landmark British Cycling policy.
The organisation banned transgender women from elite women’s events and Bridges has outlined her intention to fight to overturn the policy in court.
She also accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of ‘normalising’ violence against trans people during an interview with ITV News.
Parry waded in on the controversy on GB News and claimed the only reason a court is taking her case on is “because it’s fashionable”.
He argued that it cannot be fair for Bridges to compete against women as she has undergone puberty as a male.
“Should she be racing as a transgender woman against women?”, he asked.
“She’s 6’2 high, and has she gone through puberty? That’s the critical test, and the answer is yes.
“How then can you possibly say it is fair for that person to compete on a physical level against a woman who has gone through female puberty?
“It’s ridiculous.”
GB News host Bev Turner spoke about Bridge’s assertion that she “doesn’t feel safe” enough to compete against men.
Mike Parry says the only reason the case has gone to court is because it is 'fashionable'
GB NEWS
GB NEWS
“She presumably means pelotons are dangerous, they’re a physical endeavour”, Bev commented.
“She has male biology that would therefore render her a danger to female athletes potentially.”
Bridges admitted during her interview that even if she were to emerge successful in her case, it would not bring about a return to sport for her, saying “It’s not something I really want to do anymore”.
She became one of the most high-profile transgender athletes in the world last spring when British Cycling opted to restrict entry to its ‘female category’ to competitors born biologically female.
It came after a nine-month consultation and rumours some of the UK’s leading female riders were considering a boycott over Bridges’ eligibility for female races.
A statement from British Cycling to ITV News said the decision was designed to “safeguard the fairness” of the sport.
She argued that the policy was essentially a ban from elite cycling.
"A ban is a ban. You can say you can compete in the open category, but we’re women - we should be able to race in the women’s category," she said.