The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has signalled it is moving toward banning transgender athletes from women’s events at the Olympic Games, though as of today it has not taken a formal decision.
Under the leadership of newly-appointed President Kirsty Coventry, the IOC is steering away from its previous hands-off approach—where each sport federation decided its own rules—and now looks set to impose a unified policy. In June, Coventry announced the creation of a working group titled “Protection of the Female Category”, tasked with reviewing eligibility criteria for transgender athletes.
Despite the shift in tone, an IOC spokesperson confirmed this morning that no final rule exists yet. “We are still weighing universal rules for transgender athlete participation,” the official said.
The move follows pressure from several major international sports bodies, which have already tightened eligibility for transgender and DSD (differences of sex development) athletes. For instance, nations like the U.S. have effectively banned transgender women from female events via the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) policy changes adopted earlier this year.
According to documents shared with IOC members, evidence being considered includes physiological differences such as muscle mass and bone density retained from male puberty—arguments widely cited by opponents of transgender participation in female categories. Nonetheless, critics argue that the science remains contested and that blanket bans may violate inclusion principles.
Inside the IOC’s walls, the working group is expected to issue draft policy recommendations by early 2026. If adopted, these would guide not only the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles but set precedent for youth and regional Olympic events as well.
For athletes and advocates, the uncertainty is unsettling. Trans and non-binary athletes have cited a lack of clarity and the risk of exclusion, while advocacy groups warn of potential human-rights implications. On the opposite side, many women’s sports entities welcome stronger regulation to bolster competitive fairness.
