IOC Moves Toward Ban on Transgender Women in Female Olympic Events.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is considering a unified policy that may prohibit transgender women from competing in female categories across all Olympic sports.
Until now, individual sports federations have set their own rules. However, IOC President Kirsty Coventry says a single global framework is needed to protect fairness in women’s sports.
Coventry, who took office in June, said the IOC would draw on existing research and regulations rather than start from scratch. “The priority must be the protection of female competition,” she said, noting that some sports, like equestrian events, already allow mixed-gender competition without issue.
Dr. Jane Thornton, IOC director of health and science, recently briefed members on research showing that individuals who undergo male puberty maintain physical advantages that hormone therapy cannot fully eliminate.
Reports suggest the IOC could announce the new policy during its 145th session in Milan, ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Senior officials say momentum is building for the decision.
The debate intensified after the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting won gold despite previously facing scrutiny over gender eligibility. Both athletes identify as women and are not transgender, but the controversy renewed calls for clearer rules.
Many international sports bodies — including World Athletics and World Aquatics — already bar transgender women from competing in female events.
In the U.S., former President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this year banning transgender participation in female sports at school and grassroots levels, and suggested similar restrictions for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
So far, only one openly transgender woman, New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, has competed at the Olympics, taking part in Tokyo 2020.
The IOC has not yet made a final decision, but insiders say a shift is imminent.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is considering a unified policy that may prohibit transgender women from competing in female categories across all Olympic sports.
Until now, individual sports federations have set their own rules. However, IOC President Kirsty Coventry says a single global framework is needed to protect fairness in women’s sports.
Coventry, who took office in June, said the IOC would draw on existing research and regulations rather than start from scratch. “The priority must be the protection of female competition,” she said, noting that some sports, like equestrian events, already allow mixed-gender competition without issue.
Dr. Jane Thornton, IOC director of health and science, recently briefed members on research showing that individuals who undergo male puberty maintain physical advantages that hormone therapy cannot fully eliminate.
Reports suggest the IOC could announce the new policy during its 145th session in Milan, ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Senior officials say momentum is building for the decision.
The debate intensified after the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting won gold despite previously facing scrutiny over gender eligibility. Both athletes identify as women and are not transgender, but the controversy renewed calls for clearer rules.
Many international sports bodies — including World Athletics and World Aquatics — already bar transgender women from competing in female events.
In the U.S., former President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this year banning transgender participation in female sports at school and grassroots levels, and suggested similar restrictions for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
So far, only one openly transgender woman, New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, has competed at the Olympics, taking part in Tokyo 2020.
The IOC has not yet made a final decision, but insiders say a shift is imminent.
IOC Moves Toward Ban on Transgender Women in Female Olympic Events.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is considering a unified policy that may prohibit transgender women from competing in female categories across all Olympic sports.
Until now, individual sports federations have set their own rules. However, IOC President Kirsty Coventry says a single global framework is needed to protect fairness in women’s sports.
Coventry, who took office in June, said the IOC would draw on existing research and regulations rather than start from scratch. “The priority must be the protection of female competition,” she said, noting that some sports, like equestrian events, already allow mixed-gender competition without issue.
Dr. Jane Thornton, IOC director of health and science, recently briefed members on research showing that individuals who undergo male puberty maintain physical advantages that hormone therapy cannot fully eliminate.
Reports suggest the IOC could announce the new policy during its 145th session in Milan, ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Senior officials say momentum is building for the decision.
The debate intensified after the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting won gold despite previously facing scrutiny over gender eligibility. Both athletes identify as women and are not transgender, but the controversy renewed calls for clearer rules.
Many international sports bodies — including World Athletics and World Aquatics — already bar transgender women from competing in female events.
In the U.S., former President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this year banning transgender participation in female sports at school and grassroots levels, and suggested similar restrictions for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
So far, only one openly transgender woman, New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, has competed at the Olympics, taking part in Tokyo 2020.
The IOC has not yet made a final decision, but insiders say a shift is imminent.
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