IOC sets new eligibility rules for women’s sport

The International Olympic Committee has announced that from the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, only biological female athletes whose sex is confirmed by a one-off genetic test will be eligible to compete in women’s events.

The new policy follows an 18-month consultation process and is intended to establish uniform rules after a period in which individual sports federations set their own criteria.

As part of the eligibility requirements, athletes will undergo testing for the presence of the SRY gene, which the IOC says is associated with male biological development. The committee stated that this characteristic remains unchanged throughout life.

Athletes who test positive will not be permitted to compete in the female category, except in rare cases involving differences in sex development.

IOC president Kirsty Coventry said the aim is to ensure fairness and safety in women’s sport. ‘At the Olympics, even the smallest difference can determine the outcome between winning and losing.’

The new rules will not apply retroactively and will not affect amateur or local level competitions.

Until now, transgender athletes have been allowed to compete at the Olympics subject to approval by their respective international federations, with some sports already imposing their own restrictions. The issue also sparked controversy during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

In the United States, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s categories.

(reuters, max)