(The Lion) — The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced a new rule limiting women’s Olympic events to females, banning males who identify as transgender.
Under the updated policy, athletes competing in female categories must be anatomically female, verified through a one-time genetic screening. The rule will take effect starting with the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Officials said the change will restore fairness in women’s sports, where concerns have grown that female athletes have been disadvantaged in competition.
“Eligibility for any female category event at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, including individual and team sports, is now limited to biological females, determined on the basis of a one-time SRY gene screening,” the IOC said in its policy announcement.
The testing may be conducted through saliva, cheek swab or blood sample. Olympic officials described the approach as rooted in scientific evidence.
For years, governing bodies have faced criticism for policies that many athletes argued undermined women’s sports by allowing biological males to compete in female divisions.
IOC President Kristy Coventry said the change reflects those concerns.
“So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe,” Coventry said.
She added the policy is based on scientific input and the realities of elite competition, where small differences can decide outcomes.
Olympic silver medalist women’s swimmer Sharron Davies celebrated the decision.
Male contestants can no longer “steal places or prizes ( & all the associated opportunities that beings) from women in Olympic sport NOW that must apply to all women, because some women are not more worthy of fairness than others,” she posted on X. “Fairness for all female athletes, at all levels.”
The move comes after strong evidence showing how biological differences can impact results.
A World Athletics panel found dozens of athletes with male biological advantages – notably intersex athletes with Y chromosomes – have reached finals in women’s events over the past two decades. A separate United Nations report indicated hundreds of female athletes have missed podium finishes after competing against transgender athletes, Fox News reports.
While some institutions have refused to act on this issue, the IOC took a different approach. It sided with biology over gender ideology.
The policy will apply across individual and team events under IOC jurisdiction, setting a global standard for Olympic competition.
