IOC likely to ban transgender women from female category before LA 2028 Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is reportedly moving closer to introducing a ban on transgender women competing in female sports categories. The move is expected to come into effect before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

According to reports, the new IOC president Kirsty Coventry has made it clear that she wants to fulfil her campaign promise of protecting the integrity of the women’s category in sports. The new policy could be finalised within the next six to twelve months.

The proposed ban would also align with US President Donald Trump’s executive order issued in February, which prevents transgender women from competing in women’s sports in the United States. This alignment could help the IOC avoid clashes with Trump in the lead-up to the LA 2028 Games.

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Trump had earlier said that he would not allow transgender athletes to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics after he signed the ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’ order in February this year.

IOC is still debating DSD

However, the IOC is reportedly facing an internal debate regarding athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD), who were registered female at birth but have male chromosomes and testosterone levels.

Several federations have launched their own studies or changed rules to ban anyone who has gone through male puberty from competing in the female category at an elite level.

World Rugby has banned transgender athletes from competing at elite level, while World Athletics does not allow transgender athletes who have undergone male puberty from competing.

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World Aquatics allows transgender athletes who have transitioned before the age of 12 to compete, but not those who have done so after that age.

The situation remains somewhat murky in football, the world’s most popular sport, with FIFA yet to announce an updated policy as some individual associations, including the English FA, have unilaterally banned transgender players from competing in women’s competitions.

Boxing and athletics have also this year introduced mandatory tests for athletes in the female category to detect the SRY gene, which is on the Y chromosome and triggers the development of male characteristics in mammals.

The term DSD gained attention due to boxer Imane Khelif, who won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Algerian boxer stirred a debate after questions around her gender were raised during the event, with some pointing out the potential unfairness.

(With agency inputs)