The International Olympic Committee is moving closer to imposing a blanket ban on transgender women competing in female categories, a major shift in its longstanding policy of deferring such decisions to individual sports federations.
Recent presentations to IOC members highlighted potential physical advantages retained by athletes who have undergone male puberty. IOC President Kirsty Coventry, a seven-time Olympic medallist, has pledged to “play a leading role” in shaping new gender eligibility rules. After her election in June, she confirmed that a working group of experts and international federations had been formed to “ensure that we find consensus.”
IOC medical and scientific director Dr. Jane Thornton briefed members last week, outlining the medical basis for the possible restrictions and describing how biological sex verification could work, similar to measures recently adopted by World Athletics. While no decision has yet been finalized, sources indicate a ban could take effect in time for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The proposed policy may also apply to athletes with differences of sex development (DSD), whose eligibility has sparked debate over fairness and inclusion. Several sports, including World Aquatics, World Athletics, and British Triathlon, have already introduced new eligibility rules, while rugby governing bodies have barred transgender women from female-only competitions.
External political pressure has added momentum to the issue. In February, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at preventing transgender women from competing in female events at the 2028 Games, asserting, “My administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes.” He further instructed homeland security officials to deny visas to transgender athletes seeking entry into the United States for the Olympics.
The issue has been contentious in recent years. New Zealand’s Laurel Hubbard became the first openly transgender woman to compete at the Olympics in Tokyo 2020, while the 2024 Paris Games saw boxer Imane Khelif cleared to fight after earlier gender eligibility disputes.
Under Coventry’s leadership, the IOC’s reconsideration of universal eligibility rules marks a potentially decisive moment for the future of women’s sport.
