IOC Bans Transgender Women from 2028 Olympics in New Policy

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has enacted a new eligibility policy excluding transgender women from female categories at the Olympics, effective from the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Policy Implementation

• Eligibility for all female category events at the Olympics and other IOC events is limited to biological females.
• Determination is based on a one-time SRY gene screening.
• The policy applies to both individual and team sports.

Restrictions on Athletes with DSD

• Female athletes with differences in sex development (DSD), such as two-time Olympic champion Caster Semenya, are also restricted under this policy.
• These athletes must meet the same biological criteria based on SRY screening.

Alignment with Global Standards

• The policy aligns with U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order on women’s sports.
• It mirrors rules previously adopted by top-tier sports federations, including track and field, swimming, and cycling, ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Scientific Justification

• The IOC cites research indicating that being born male confers physical advantages through three testosterone peaks: in utero, infancy, and puberty through adulthood.
• These advantages are retained and impact sports reliant on strength, power, and endurance.

Scope and Exceptions

• The policy is not retroactive and does not apply to grassroots or recreational sports programs.
• It aims to protect fairness, safety, and integrity in the female category, while the Olympic Charter affirms access to sport as a human right.