Transgender athletes will not be able to compete in women’s events at the Olympic Games after the International Olympic Committee approved a new eligibility policy on March 26. The restrictions, which were previously in place in athletics, now apply to all sports. This was reported by Associated Press.
The new rules are based on US President Donald Trump’s executive order on sports ahead of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“The right to compete in women’s competitions at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, including individual and team sports, is now limited to biological women,” the IOC said in a statement.
Status will be determined through a mandatory genetic test that every athlete must undergo at least once during their professional career.
The admission policy will take effect from the Summer Games in July 2028 and will be aimed at “protecting fairness, safety and integrity” in women’s sports. The IOC also clarified that the decision does not apply to amateur sports at the grassroots level.
No woman who transitioned after being born male has competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Transgender weightlifter Laurel Gabbard competed in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics but did not win a medal.
Previously, Olympic boxing champion Khalif said she underwent hormone therapy before the Games.
