Quote from: Rana on August 02, 2006, 07:50:50 AM
I am a bit confused by this, what was the problem?
Rana
Second-placed Canadian Womens' Downhill Cycling competitor Danika
Schroeter has been formally suspended by the Canadian Cycling
Association (CCA) following their review of an incident that took place
during the podium ceremony at the National Mountain Bike Downhill
Championships in Whistler, British Columbia, on 22nd July.
See "Downhill Biker Descends to Unsporting Low"
At
http://www.pfc.org.uk/pfclists/news-arc/2006q3/msg00024.htmAn official statement issued from CCA headquarters in Ottawa on July
31st, 2006 confirms that Schroeter's racing license will be suspended
for three months and explains that Ms. Schroeter's actions were in
violation of the following rules:
* Article 1.2.079 - Conduct of participants in cycling races
* All license holders shall at all times be properly dressed
and behave correctly in all circumstances, even when not racing.
* They shall refrain from any acts of violence, threats or
insults or any other improper behavior or from putting other
persons in danger. They may not in word, gesture, writing or
otherwise harm the reputation or question the honour of other
license holders, officials, sponsors, federations, the UCI or
cycling in general. The right of criticism shall be exercised
in a motivated and reasonable manner and with moderation.
* Article 12.1.005 - Forms of infringement
Anyone subject to the UCI Regulations shall be suspended for a
minimum of one month and a maximum of six months, who:
2. behaves in such a way as to blemish the image, the reputation
or the interests of cycling or the UCI ...
The Canadian Cycling Association goes on to say that it "takes offences
of this nature committed by its members very seriously. While athletes
have the right to hold and express their opinions, they also have a duty
to express them in a manner appropriate to sport and to Canadian
society."
"Ms. Schroeter has until August 11 to appeal her suspension", say the
CCA. They add that, "if she chooses not to appeal, the suspension will
come into effect on the following day and will last until October 12. In
the event of an appeal, the CCA will rule on the appeal by August 14.
During the period of her suspension Ms. Schroeter will not be permitted
to participate in any sanctioned cycling activity."
Editorial comment
-----------------
An event such as this must be seen as a landmark in the unfolding story
of trans people's participation in sport. It is clear from the
photograph of the incident that the association's rules unquestionnably
apply to Schroeter's display of behaviour on the podium. Nevertheless
rules in general have often seemed disappointingly flexible when trans
people have complained of discrimination or harassment (or just plain
bad manners) in other settings before now.
The CCA therefore deserves praise for doing unquestionnably the right
thing in this case, even though some may attempt to make a martyr of
Danika Schroeter as a result. Controversy around the issue of trans
people participating in sports (whether for fun or competition) won't
simply go away. However, the CCA has acted in a way that other sporting
bodies around the world would do well to note.
Standing on a podium displaying a slogan that insults another competitor
is not the way to have a debate about what's fair in any sport. Fairness
and the safety of competitors are crucially important issues, but they
cut both ways.
The way to be fair to one competitor is to be fair to them all, which
includes trans women and men as well. And fairness is not advanced by
basing your arguments on medical folklore and slogans. What's fair and
what's unfair needs to be based on the facts. And in this case the
Canadian Cycling Association had already considered the facts of whether
a trans woman competitor has any physical advantage over non-trans women
in that sport. That's what sports ruling bodies are for. And if some
competitors still decide that they don't like the conclusions then there
is an avenue to deal with that in civilised society. But militant
displays played to the gallery are not that way.
Becky
