By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has ruled that only biological females will be allowed to compete in women’s sports at the Olympics from 2028.
This was contained in a statement by the committee issued on Thursday, March 26, which bans transgender women from its women’s competitions.
According to the IOC, all athletes looking to compete in women’s events at future Olympics will be required to undergo a “once-in-a-lifetime” Sex Determining Region Y (SRY) gene test, which is used to detect the presence of the male Y chromosome in a human.
It said the new policy is retroactive and does not apply to any grassroots or recreational sports programmes and will take full effect from the next Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.
The IOC further noted that athletes with an SRY-positive screen, including XY transgender and androgen-sensitive XY-DSD athletes, continue to be included in all other classifications for which they qualify.
It said: “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.
“Athletes with an SRY-positive screen, including XY transgender and androgen-sensitive XY-DSD athletes, continue to be included in all other classifications for which they qualify.
“For example, they are eligible for any male category, including in a designated male slot within any mixed category, and any open category, or in sports and events that do not classify athletes by sex.”
Kirsty Coventry, IOC president, said the policy “is based on science and has been led by medical experts,” adding that the presence of male chromosomes in transgender women gives them an advantage in sports requiring strength and endurance over biological females.
Coventry said, “The scientific evidence is very clear. Male chromosomes give performance advantages in sports that rely on strength, power or endurance.”
She further added, “As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition. The policy that we have announced is based on science and has been led by medical experts.
“At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So, it is absolutely clear that 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.
“Every athlete must be treated with dignity and respect, and athletes will need to be screened only once in their lifetime. There must be clear education around the process and counselling available, alongside expert medical advice.”
The organisation added that its new policy must be adopted by all international sports federations for IOC elite events, including the Summer and Winter Olympics.
