The International Olympic Committee has ruled that transgender women and athletes with differences in sex development will no longer be eligible to compete in the female category at the Olympic Games, starting with Los Angeles 2028.
IOC president Kirsty Coventry said Friday the decision was based on scientific evidence and aimed at ensuring fairness and safety in women’s sport. “It would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category,” she said.
Under the new rules, athletes must undergo a one-time genetic screening for the SRY gene, typically through a cheek swab or saliva test, to confirm eligibility for the female category. The IOC said the test is non-intrusive and provides highly accurate evidence of male sex development.
The policy follows years of debate over transgender and DSD participation in elite sport. Laurel Hubbard of New Zealand became the first transgender woman to compete at an Olympics in 2021, while South Africa’s Caster Semenya and Algeria’s Imane Khelif are among DSD athletes who have won medals.
The IOC cited research showing male puberty confers significant performance advantages, ranging from 10–12% in endurance events to more than 100% in sports requiring explosive power.
Reaction was mixed. Advocacy group Sex Matters welcomed the move, saying it “returns female sport to female athletes.” But Dsdfamilies, which supports people with DSD, warned the policy could cause harm to a vulnerable minority and called for greater sensitivity.
The IOC emphasized the rules apply only to elite competition and urged international federations to adopt them across Olympic sports.
