EXCLUSIVE: Trans-Identified Male Cyclist Participates in Elite Women’s Events in Direct Violation of Single-Sex Policy

A trans-identified male cyclist who has competed in more than 60 women’s events has recently defied official policy by competing in a renowned professional bike race in Philadelphia. James Olson Tait, who changed his name to “Amanda” in 2014, violated rules put forward both by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and USA Cycling barring males from competing in women’s categories when he competed in the Philadelphia Cycling Classic.

On September 15, 2025, USA Cycling updated their formal participation category policy, after having been directed to do so by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Just months before the policy went into effect, the women’s professional cycling world had been gripped by multiple controversies involving trans-identified males smashing women’s records and winning major competitions.

According to the updated guideline, any individual, “irrespective of sex assigned at birth,” may compete in the Men’s / Open Category. However, the Women’s Category would restrict participation to females, which it defined as “a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the large reproductive cell.”

At the time, the change to policy was met with tremendous backlash from trans activists, who claimed trans-identified males were being “excluded” from cycling by not having permission to enter women’s races. However, some trans-inclusive cycling clubs vocally opposed the policy, and issued vague ultimatums that suggested they either would not comply or would find loopholes to secure the participation of trans-identified males.

While many trans-identified male cyclists openly condemned the change, some appear to have attempted to obfuscate their sex with the intention of continuing to compete in violation of the policy.

James Olson “Amanda” Tait has ridden in over 50 women’s races sanctioned by USAC since the new policy came into effect, and has placed first in several competitions, including at the Prospect Park Cycling Series in Brooklyn on August 8.

In addition to women’s cycling, Tait has also been participating in women’s Ironman triathlons.

Last year, after the policy was first introduced, Tait posted to his Instagram that he intended to help other trans-identified male racers violate the policy by “shunning” anyone who challenged the inclusion of a male in the women’s category, and encouraged others to violate or disregard the policy as well. Tait later deleted the post.

Tait’s now-deleted post on the USAC policy update.

Despite having no known prior record in men’s racing, Tait has aggressively risen through the ranks of women’s cycling, enabling him to compete in elite-level USA Cycling events in just over one year. In March of 2025, Tait began cycling in the women’s development category, which is for beginners. By mid-2026, he already qualified to participate in professional USA Cycling events and acquired a UCI international, pro-license to compete in Sunday’s race against professional and Olympic-level female riders.

In June, Tait competed in the USA Cycling Masters and Junior Road National Championship, where he achieved a 4th place finish against some of the best female cyclists in the country. Tait’s win pushed Gwen Jorgensen, an Olympian who won the USA’s first ever triathlon gold medal, off the podium and out of the Top 5.

On August 30, Tait participated in the elite women’s category of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic, an iconic American road race considered to be one of the most prestigious events outside of Europe. The August 30 race was the first time the Classic was held in 10 years, and involved elite cyclists from international teams. Tait acquired a “did not finish” (DNF) result, which is not uncommon for races of this calibre, but his participation in the event triggered massive concern amongst women’s sports advocates aware that he was a biological male.

A representative from the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS) expressed outrage at Tait’s flagrant disregard for USAC policy.

“Allowing a male athlete who would be unremarkable in the men’s category to rise among the world’s top female athletes at unprecedented speed is humiliating to the elite women who have spent years competing at this level. It sends two damaging messages: first, that the governing body does not respect women’s cycling enough to enforce basic eligibility standards; and second, that a male cyclist who might, in the men’s category, be a ‘weekend warrior’ competing locally can be presented as somehow equivalent to the world’s best women. That does a profound disservice not only to those athletes, but to the credibility and reputation of women’s cycling itself,” the representative said.

ICONS considers USAC historically one of the “biggest offenders” when it comes to male athletes competing in women’s competition. It notes that USAC has had more known men competing in the women’s category than any other national governing body overseeing an Olympic sport in the United States. Since it’s policy change, it is now confronted with enforcement shortfalls as male cyclists attempt to demand their way into the women’s category.

“This is an embarrassment and a breach of trust across the Olympic cycling movement. Eligibility rules are meaningless without timely screening and enforcement,” the ICONS representative continued.

HeCheated, an independent resource that tracks male participation in female athletics, expressed outrage at USAC for failing to enforce their own policies and protect the female category.

“USA Cycling has demonstrated that they have no intention of enforcing their own eligibility rules. A man has been openly flaunting those rules and encouraging others to do the same, yet USAC has made no moves to stop him. They have also made it impossible for women to petition his participation, as ‘only USA Cycling shall have the right to contest the individual’s Women’s Category status.’ Eligibility rules without enforcement are meaningless. With their lack of enforcement, USAC has made it clear that their intentions with the updated rules were not to ensure fairness in the female category, but rather to stop women complaining about the unfairness they have allowed and are still allowing to continue,” a representative of the platform stated.

Both HeCheated and ICONS have campaigned for the introduction of non-invasive sex tests to ensure category eligibility. Such tests are commonly completed via a quick cheek swab where DNA markers associated with sex chromosomes can be readily determined.

“A simple SRY screen for every athlete entering the female category would be an easy and cheap way of solving the issues of enforcement. The test can be done right at registration, not after athletes and organizations have invested significant time, money, and resources,” the representative from ICONS stated.

“Female athletes deserve to know the rules protecting their category are enforced before they reach the starting line and that violators will face punishment.”

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