By Deborah Nnamdi
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is weighing a landmark policy that could prohibit transgender women from competing in female categories across all Olympic sports.
Until now, each sport’s governing federation has been responsible for setting its own eligibility rules. However, IOC President Kirsty Coventry said a unified global framework is needed to ensure fairness and consistency in women’s sports.
Coventry, who assumed office in June, explained that the proposed policy would build on existing scientific research and regulations rather than begin from scratch. “The priority must be the protection of female competition,” she said, adding that some disciplines, such as equestrian sports, already operate successfully with mixed-gender participation.
Dr. Jane Thornton, the IOC’s director of health and science, recently briefed members on studies showing that individuals who experience male puberty retain certain physical advantages that hormone therapy cannot fully reverse.
Reports indicate that the IOC could unveil the new policy at its 145th session in Milan, ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Sources suggest there is growing momentum within the organization to finalize the decision.
The issue has gained renewed attention since the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting—both cisgender women—faced public scrutiny over gender eligibility before winning gold medals. The controversy reignited debates about fairness and clarity in women’s competitions.
Several major sports organizations, including World Athletics and World Aquatics, already ban transgender women from competing in female events.
In the United States, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this year barring transgender participation in female sports at the school and grassroots levels, and called for similar restrictions ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
To date, only one openly transgender woman—New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard—has competed in the Olympics, appearing at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Although the IOC has yet to make a final ruling, insiders say a significant policy shift appears imminent.
