The International Olympic Committee announced on Thursday, March 26, 2026, that transgender women are prohibited from competing in Olympic Games. The governing body stated only biological females will be allowed to participate in women's events starting from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This decision marks a significant policy reversal from the liberal guidelines implemented in 2021. The announcement comes as global sporting bodies face increasing pressure to define eligibility standards.
The IOC is reintroducing testing for gender to determine eligibility to take part in women's events. This screening will be based on a one-time SRY gene test carried out through a saliva sample, cheek swab, or blood sample. Officials confirmed that this biological assessment will be conducted once in an athlete's lifetime to ensure compliance.
IOC president Kirsty Coventry stated the policy is based on science and led by medical experts. She argued that even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat in competitive sports. Coventry emphasized that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category due to safety concerns.
The new policy removes a potential source of conflict between the IOC and US President Donald Trump. Trump issued an executive order banning transgender athletes from women's sport soon after he came to office. Implementing a consistent approach across all sports harmonizes the Olympics with current United States federal policy.
World Athletics welcomed the change of tack regarding the eligibility criteria for track and field. A spokesperson for the international body noted that protecting women's sport requires a fair and level playing field. They stated that gender cannot trump biology when determining participation in female categories.
Gender testing was first introduced at the 1968 Olympics and last used at the 1996 Atlanta Games before being scrapped. The International Olympic Committee brings in the new policy after the women's boxing competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics was rocked by a gender row. This controversy involved Algerian fighter Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan.
The British Journal of Sports Medicine published an article this month questioning the scientific data regarding sport performance advantage of people with DSDs. The publication added that evidence regarding their athletic performance is extremely limited and problematic. Critics argue the SRY gene screening may rule out many athletes with differences in sexual development unfairly.
The best-known DSD athlete of recent years is South African runner Caster Semenya who is a two-time Olympic women's 800m champion. She possesses male XY chromosomes but has competed in women's events for years. Her case highlights the complexity of defining biological sex in international athletic competition.
Both boxers Khelif and Lin went on to win gold medals despite earlier exclusion from the International Boxing Association. The IOC allowed them to compete saying they had been victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA. Lin has since been cleared to compete in the female category at events run by World Boxing for the 2028 Games.
The international community will now watch how the IOC implements these strict biological standards across all Olympic sports. Sports federations must now align their eligibility rules with the new SRY gene screening requirements. The next major test for this policy will occur during the qualification process for the Los Angeles Games. Regulatory bodies will need to verify compliance before the official start of the competition cycle.
