IOC bars transgender athletes from women’s Olympic events

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that only biological females will be eligible to compete in women’s categories at the Olympic Games.

The decision was made public in a statement released on Thursday.

Under the new guidelines, athletes seeking participation in female events at future Olympics must undergo a “once-in-a-lifetime” Sex Determining Region Y (SRY) gene test.

The SRY gene test is used to determine the presence of the male Y chromosome in an individual.

According to the IOC, the rule will not apply retrospectively but will come into full force starting from the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Kirsty Coventry stated that the policy “is based on science and has been led by medical experts”.

“The scientific evidence is very clear. Male chromosomes give performance advantages in sports that rely on strength, power or endurance.

“At the Olympic Games even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat,” she said.

“So it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”

The IOC further noted that all international sports federations must adopt the policy for elite competitions under its jurisdiction, including both Summer and Winter Games.

The new stance also mirrors an earlier directive by Donald Trump, who in February 2025 signed an executive order restricting transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports in the United States.