Mumbai, March 28: In a significant policy change, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a ban on transgender women participating in women’s events at the Olympics. This decision was made public on March 26 and will take effect from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Under the new guidelines, only biological females will be allowed to compete in women’s categories. To confirm eligibility, athletes will be required to undergo a gene test, specifically SRY gene screening, which can be conducted through saliva, cheek swabs, or blood samples.
Transgender men, who were assigned female at birth but identify as male, will still be permitted to compete in women’s events. Previously, the IOC allowed transgender women to compete if their testosterone levels were below a certain threshold, but this policy has now been revised to ensure fair competition.
This change follows an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump last year, which aimed to restrict visas for transgender women participating in the Los Angeles Olympics. The IOC has stated that the new rule will apply only to professional sports.
The IOC, founded on June 23, 1894, is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and oversees the organization of the Summer, Winter, and Youth Olympic Games.