TORONTO – Five Canadian track cyclists have taken their case for inclusion of a women’s pursuit team in this year’s world championship to the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal after their appeal was denied by the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada.
Cycling Canada intends to enter a men’s pursuit team in October’s world championship in Shanghai, which is the first qualifier for countries for the 2028 Olympic Games, but not a women’s team.
Fiona Majendie, Skyler Goudswaard, Jenna Nestman, Lily Plante and Justine Thomas want the Human Rights Tribunal to issue an interim order requiring Cycling Canada to enter a women’s pursuit team in Shanghai. The deadline to register is Sept. 21.
The women are not asking the Tribunal to select an athlete, or determine the composition of a team, but want a team entered into the world championship.
Cycling Canada said the decision to enter men and not women was based on performance analysis showing the men were closer to closing the gap on a world top-six ranking than the women, along with budget limitations.
The Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada denied the women’s appeal earlier this month.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2026.
