In a harrowing display of unfairness, a runner-up in a USA Cycling race has unleashed her frustration after being blindsided by the participation of a transgender cyclist. Julie Peterson, who finished second, had no inkling that her competitor, Kate Phillips, was born male. This alarming revelation raises a critical question: how can we condone such a blatant disregard for fairness in women’s sports?

Peterson voiced the outrage that many women athletes are feeling, stating, “If I had known, I wouldn’t have spent thousands of dollars in travel and time off work to come and do a race.” Her principle was simple: the integrity of women’s sports should never be compromised. After losing to Phillips at the Lyons Masters National Championships in Wisconsin, Peterson refused to accept her place on the podium, spurred by the conviction that competing against a biological male is inherently unjust.

As she confronted officials about Phillips’ presence in the race, Peterson was scolded for her candid assessment: “I don’t want to race against a man.” This audacity to speak the truth, however, only underscores the growing anxiety among female athletes forced to compete against those born with an undeniable physical advantage in a sport designed for women.

Peterson’s experience ignited a wave of solidarity among fellow female cyclists. Veteran cyclist Debbie Milne, who finished seventh, echoed Peterson’s concerns, asserting, “He was born a biological male, that is a fact.” Milne made it clear that competing against individuals who possess innate advantages from natural testosterone levels and muscle density is both illogical and fundamentally unfair.

In her deeply personal reflection on 25 years of racing, Milne highlighted the myriad challenges women face—challenges that a biological man can never truly understand. The unique experiences of womanhood, from biological cycles to specific emotional burdens, cannot be overlooked when discussing competition. “When you show up to the race and you are at the worst point of the monthly cycle and you know you’re at a disadvantage, that’s a reality only women face,” Milne stated emphatically.

Others, like Kristina Gray, have faced similar dissatisfactions, revealing that throughout her racing career, competing against biological males has become an unnerving norm. “In Oregon…there is a biological male in our races every weekend, practically.” This repeated exposure to unfair competition only intensifies the urgency for a dialogue about the future of women’s sports.

The fact remains: under the current USA Cycling transgender eligibility policy, biological males can compete in the women’s category by merely declaring their gender identity. This flawed system must be reevaluated. Women’s sports deserve true equity and should be a space where female athletes compete against one another without the overshadowing presence of biological males.

It is time to stand up for fairness. The voices of these female athletes are clear—women’s sports must prioritize the integrity and safety of biological female competitors. We cannot allow political correctness to overshadow the undeniable facts about biological differences. The future of women’s athletics depends on preserving its competitive integrity.