A significant policy shift is underway at the International Olympic Committee that could see transgender women barred from competing in the female category at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. This move, if implemented, would mark a dramatic reversal from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where history was made.
A Watershed Moment and a Changing Tide
In Tokyo, Laurel Hubbard became the first openly trans woman to compete in a solo Olympic event. The New Zealand weightlifter, then 43, took to the stage in the women's +87kg category. Although she did not complete a successful lift, her participation was a landmark moment for inclusion. Hubbard had transitioned in 2012 and previously won World Championship silver medals in 2017.
Four years later, the landscape looks profoundly different. Under the leadership of its new president, Kirsty Coventry, the IOC is actively discussing a new framework expected to prevent transgender women from competing in female events. According to sources, this policy is strongly expected to be in place for the LA Games in 2028 and is also likely to cover athletes with Differences in Sex Development (DSD).
The Athletes in the Crossfire
The proposed ban would directly impact a generation of athletes whose Olympic dreams may now be dashed. The policy is anticipated to come into effect after the Winter Olympics in February 2026.
Laurel Hubbard is now retired, but other competitors face an uncertain future. Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer who won gold at Paris 2024, has been at the centre of controversy after allegedly failing a gender eligibility test in 2023. World Boxing has since made sex screening mandatory, and Khelif is challenging this at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
American BMX rider Chelsea Wolfe was already blocked from the Paris Games by cycling's governing body, the UCI. She had previously been an alternate for Team USA in Tokyo. Similarly, swimmer Lia Thomas, who made history by winning a US college title in 2022, was banned from elite women's competition by World Aquatics, a decision upheld by CAS in 2024.
In the UK, cyclist Emily Bridges saw her hopes for Paris ended by UCI rules. Bridges stated that the decision meant part of her life was 'gone now' and she has largely stepped away from competition.
Internal Opposition and the Future of Competition
While the push for a ban is gaining momentum, it is not without its critics. Daily Mail Sport sources indicate the policy faces internal opposition within the IOC. The debate centres on how to balance inclusivity with what President Coventry has described as the need to 'protect the female category'.
This potential blanket ban represents one of the most consequential decisions in modern Olympic history, setting a new precedent for how international sports bodies navigate the complex issue of gender identity in elite competition. The world will be watching as the IOC finalises its stance in the lead-up to LA 2028.
