MANCHESTER, England (AP) Riders who were assigned male at birth will be prevented from racing in British Cyclings elite female events under a new transgender and non-binary participation policy published by the governing body on Friday.

New rules for competitive events, due to be implemented this year, will see racing split into open and female categories, with transgender women, transgender men, non-binary individuals and those whose sex was assigned male at birth eligible to compete in the open category.

The female category will remain for those whose sex was assigned female at birth and for transgender men who are yet to begin hormone therapy.

The current mens category will be consolidated into the open category, in which those whose sex was assigned as female at birth can also compete if they so wish.

There is still no set date for the new regulations to be implemented, with British Cycling saying only that it will be before the end of the year, allowing time for changes to technical regulations and discussions with the UCI, cyclings world governing body, regarding implementation.