US President Donald Trump has announced that female athletes competing in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games may be required to undergo a one-time genetic sex test as part of eligibility verification, amid ongoing controversies surrounding gender classification in professional sports.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, August 6, Trump addressed concerns following disputes at the Paris 2024 Games involving Algerian welterweight boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwanese featherweight Lin Yu-ting. Both athletes were previously disqualified from the 2023 Women’s World Championships by the former International Boxing Association (IBA) over alleged gender eligibility issues. Although cleared to compete in Paris by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), questions about their status have persisted.
The IBA stated that while the athletes had not undergone testosterone testing, they had been subjected to another confidential, recognized method. The organization claimed both athletes held a competitive advantage over their female peers and did not meet eligibility criteria.
The IOC later overruled the IBA, affirming that gender eligibility for Olympic athletes would be determined based on passport documentation, consistent with previous competitions.
When asked if his administration would enforce stricter measures to protect female athletes, particularly in combat sports, Trump said, “There is going to be a very strong form of testing. If the test doesn’t come out appropriately, they won’t be in the Olympics.”
He also indicated that the Department of Justice would handle any legal action against individuals found to be falsely representing their gender to compete, though no detailed legal framework was provided. Additionally, Trump announced the creation of a White House-led Olympic task force, which he will personally oversee to coordinate preparations for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
This move follows recent developments by World Athletics, which introduced mandatory one-time genetic testing for all female athletes ahead of the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo. Effective September 1, the new rules require athletes to be tested for the SRY gene—a widely accepted biological sex marker—using non-invasive methods such as cheek swabs or blood tests.
Female athletes, including notable Team GB members like Keely Hodgkinson and Georgia Hunter Bell, must complete testing to compete at the Tokyo event starting September 13.
The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will be the city’s third time hosting the Games, previously in 1932 and 1984. The last Summer Olympics held in the US took place in Atlanta in 1996.
