The International Olympic Committee has announced that transgender women and athletes with differences in sex development (DSD) will be barred from competing in the female category at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and future Games. The decision, revealed by IOC President Kirsty Coventry, aims to ensure fairness and safety in women's sport.
Coventry stated that the policy is based on scientific evidence and medical expertise, emphasising that biological males retain performance advantages even after transitioning. 'It would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category,' she said, adding that in some sports, it would also be unsafe.
Under the new rules, all athletes in the female category must undergo a one-off SRY gene screening, typically via a cheek swab or saliva test, to confirm their biological sex. The IOC's 10-page policy document highlights that male performance advantages range from 10-12% in running and swimming to over 100% in explosive power events.
The decision has drawn mixed reactions. Charity Sex Matters welcomed the move, with interim chair Emma Hilton calling it 'a simple, non-invasive, once-in-a-lifetime check that returns female sport to female athletes.' However, Dsdfamilies expressed concern, warning that eligibility rules must avoid causing harm to vulnerable minority groups.
The policy applies to elite individual and team sports at the Olympics and is recommended for adoption by all international sports federations. It does not affect grassroots or recreational programmes.
