Transgender women athletes will be barred from competing in Olympic women’s events under a new eligibility policy announced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday, March 26.
The rule, set to take effect for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, limits participation in all female categories at IOC events—including both individual and team sports—to biological females. Eligibility will be verified through a one-time gene screening program.
The IOC said the policy aims to “ensure fairness and protect safety, particularly in contact sports,” marking a shift from its previous practice of leaving eligibility decisions to individual sports federations.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry stated that the decision is guided by scientific and medical advice. “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. It would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category,” she said.
The move mirrors similar policies in the United States, including an executive order signed by Donald Trump barring transgender athletes from women’s sports and the U.S. Olympic Committee’s policy adopted last year.
