British Cycling has announced that trans women will no longer be allowed to join elite female-only cycling races and will have to compete in the men’s group instead.

The sport’s UK governing body had put its Transgender and Non-Binary Participation Policy on hold in April 2022, effectively excluding trans women from competitions.

It confirmed on Friday that the policy was now permanent.

British Cycling organised events will be divided into two groups. The men’s group will be an ‘open’ group, open to trans women, trans men, non-binary people and those who were assigned male at birth.

The other group will be exclusively for women, with British Cycling saying only “those who were assigned female at birth and trans men who have not started hormone therapy” can compete.