IOC sets groundbreaking rule limiting Olympic women’s events to biological females

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has taken a decisive step to reshape the landscape of women’s Olympic competition. 

On Thursday, the organization unveiled a new eligibility policy that limits participation in female events to biological females, effectively excluding transgender women athletes and many with certain differences in sexual development (DSD).

The move comes ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and signals a shift toward uniformity in a field long marked by fragmented rules. 

“At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat… 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,” said IOC President Kirsty Coventry.

Central to the new regulation is a science-based screening process that uses the SRY gene, a marker of male sex development as a definitive measure. According to the IOC, “the presence of the SRY gene is fixed throughout life and represents highly accurate evidence that an athlete has experienced male sex development.” 

Only athletes with rare conditions such as Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS), who do not gain a performance advantage from testosterone, are eligible as exceptions.

This marks a significant policy reversal for the IOC. Previously, the organization left gender eligibility to international federations, declining to implement a universal standard. 

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The International Olympic Committee has drawn a line in the sand banning transgender women from female competition at Olympic games. A two-year IOC investigation found biological men have an overwhelming advantage in strength, power and endurance. #olympics #ioc #worldnews pic.twitter.com/5qxDyuxc2W

— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) March 27, 2026

The announcement also signals the return of formal gender verification for Olympic competition, a practice that had fallen out of use due to ethical and scientific concerns. The 18-month consultation period preceding the policy sought to balance inclusion, safety, and competitive integrity, creating what the IOC calls a “universal rule” for female elite sport.

The timing underscores the stakes that no transgender women competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, though Laurel Hubbard competed in Tokyo 2021. The IOC notes that it remains unclear how many athletes might be affected at the Olympic level under the new policy, but the move is designed to ensure that the female category remains fair and scientifically grounded.

“With the rare exception of athletes with a diagnosis of Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS) or other rare differences/disorders in sex development (DSDs) who do not benefit from the anabolic and/or performance-enhancing effects of testosterone, no athlete with an SRY-positive screen is eligible for competition in the female category at an IOC event,” the statement added.

By codifying these rules, the IOC is not only aiming to protect fairness in competition but also to send a clear message about the integrity and safety of female Olympic sport as the world turns its attention to Los Angeles in 2028.

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