The International Olympic Committee has approved a new policy that effectively bars transgender athletes from competing in the female category at Olympic events, beginning with the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
The decision, ratified by the IOC Executive Board, limits eligibility for women’s events to biological females across all sports on the Olympic programme from LA28 onward, with no retroactive application.
Announcing the policy on Thursday, March 26, the IOC stated, “For all disciplines on the sports programme of an IOC event, including the Olympic Games and for both individual and team sports, eligibility for any female category is limited to biological females.”
The committee said eligibility would be determined through screening for the SRY gene, which it described as a reliable biological marker associated with male sex development.
According to the statement, “Eligibility for the female category is to be determined in the first instance by SRY gene screening to detect the absence or presence of the SRY gene.”
It explained that the gene, typically found on the Y chromosome, remains unchanged throughout life and provides strong scientific evidence of male biological development.
It stated, “Based on scientific evidence, the IOC considers that the presence of the SRY gene is fixed throughout life and represents highly accurate evidence that an athlete has experienced male sex development.”
The IOC noted that testing could be carried out using saliva samples, cheek swabs or blood tests, describing the process as minimally invasive.
Under the new framework, athletes who test negative for the SRY gene will permanently qualify for the female category, with screening conducted only once.
The statement read, “Athletes who screen negative for the SRY gene permanently satisfy this policy’s eligibility criteria for competition in the female category… this will be a once-in-a-lifetime test.”
However, those who test positive for the gene will generally be excluded from women’s events, with limited exceptions for certain medical conditions.
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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 affected by the restriction may still compete in other categories, including male, mixed or open events, depending on their eligibility.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry, said the policy was grounded in scientific evidence and aimed at protecting fairness and safety in competition.
She said, “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.”
She added that athletes would be treated with dignity, noting that the testing process would occur once and be accompanied by counselling and education.
The IOC said the policy followed a review conducted between September 2024 and March 2026, involving consultations with scientists, medical experts, legal specialists, sports federations and athletes worldwide.
According to the committee, the review concluded that male biological characteristics can provide performance advantages in sports requiring strength, endurance and power, prompting the recommendation that eligibility for the female category be based on biological sex.
The statement noted, “There was a strong consensus that fairness and safety in the female category required clear, science-based eligibility rules, and that protecting the female category is a common priority.”
The IOC added that the new framework replaces earlier guidance on gender identity and sex variations in sport and will apply strictly to IOC events.
International federations and national Olympic committees are expected to align their rules with the policy, while grassroots and recreational sports programmes will not be affected.