The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a major policy shift ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, stating that transgender women will no longer be allowed to compete in the women’s category.
Under the new framework, only biological females—athletes assigned female at birth—will be eligible to participate in women’s events. To enforce this, the IOC will introduce a one-time genetic screening, including SRY gene testing, to verify biological sex. The test may be conducted through saliva, cheek swab, or blood samples.
At the same time, athletes assigned female at birth who identify as transgender men will still be permitted to compete in women’s events.
Earlier Policy
Until now, the IOC allowed transgender women to compete if their testosterone levels were kept below a prescribed limit. In several cases, the final decision was left to individual international sports federations, leading to varied rules across disciplines.
New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard made history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021) as the first openly transgender woman to compete at the Games.
Push for Uniformity and Fairness
The IOC said the revised policy aims to create a uniform standard across all sports, replacing the fragmented approach previously followed by different federations. The move, it said, is intended to ensure fairness in competition.
The new rule will apply only to elite, professional-level competitions like the Olympics and will not impact grassroots or community sports.
IOC’s Stand
IOC President Kirsty Coventry backed the decision, highlighting the narrow margins at the highest level of sport.
“At the Olympic level, even the smallest margin can decide victory or defeat. In such a scenario, ensuring fair competition is essential,” she said, adding that allowing biological males in women’s categories would not be appropriate.
The IOC also cited scientific research suggesting that athletes assigned male at birth may retain physical advantages in strength, endurance, and power, even after hormonal transition.
Past Controversies
The issue of gender eligibility has been contentious in recent years. During the Paris 2024 Olympics, questions were raised over the participation of boxers Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan.
Lin Yu-ting had previously failed a gender eligibility test conducted by the International Boxing Association (IBA) in 2023, yet was allowed by the IOC to compete in Paris, where she won gold. Similarly, Imane Khelif had also been declared ineligible by the IBA for certain competitions.
The IOC had earlier questioned the reliability of such testing procedures, but the latest decision signals a stricter and more standardised approach going forward.