Canadian track cyclists take world championship case to Ontario Human Rights Tribunal

Five Canadian track cyclists have taken their case for including a women's pursuit team in this year's world championship to the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal. Their appeal was denied by the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada. The athletes, Fiona Majendie, Skyler Goudswaard, Jenna Nestman, Lily Plante, and Justine Thomas, seek an interim order from the Tribunal requiring Cycling Canada to field a women's pursuit team in Shanghai's upcoming world championship. This event serves as the first qualifier for countries aiming to compete in the 2028 Olympics.

Cycling Canada plans to field a men's pursuit team in Shanghai, marking the first time the country will enter a men's team for the world championship and the 2028 Olympic Games. However, the federation has not included a women's pursuit team. The women's cyclists argue that they would lose ranking points by not competing, which could hinder their qualification for the 2028 Olympics.

The Tribunal's decision, delivered on August 10, upheld Cycling Canada's decision to field a men's team rather than a women's team. This decision was based on performance analysis indicating that the men's team was closer to a world top-six ranking than the women's team, along with budgetary constraints. Cycling Canada's CEO, Mathieu Boucher, had previously stated that the organization would pursue qualification for the women's pursuit team in Los Angeles in 2028 if sufficient talent and resources were available.

However, Boucher and team coach Phil Abbott later wrote to the athletes, indicating that a women's pursuit team for Los Angeles was unlikely and that the focus should be on developing a team for 2032. Canada's women ranked 12th in the world in team pursuit in May, while the men were 13th.