IOC President Kirsty Coventry announced the decision on Thursday.
The International Olympic Committee has announced that trans women will be banned from competing as women from the 2028 Games.
Participation in all female categories in IOC events will now be limited to biological women, with athletes’ status determined through a one-time screening process.
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In a video on social media, IOC President Kirsty Coventry said, “Today, we in the International Olympic Committee have published a policy for the protection of the female category.”
“I understand that this is a very sensitive topic. As a former athlete, I am passionate about the right of all Olympians to participate in fair competition.”
“The policy we have announced is based on science and is led by medical experts with the best interests of practitioners at heart. The scientific basis is very clear – male chromosomes provide performance advantages in sports that rely on strength, power or endurance.”
The screening process will test for the SRY gene – a gene located on the Y chromosome that initiates male sex determination – via saliva, cheek swab, or blood sample.
The new policy will mean that most athletes with gender developmental variations (DSD) will also be banned from competing in female categories.
The announcement on Thursday comes after an IOC review conducted between September 2024 and this month, which included talks with experts and athletes, including those who would potentially be affected.
There was a lot of controversy during the 2024 Paris Olympics surrounding boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, both of whom were alleged to have previously failed gender tests but went on to win gold medals.
Coventry added: “In the Olympics, even the smallest of margins can be the difference between victory and defeat, so it is quite clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports, it simply wouldn’t be safe.”
“Every athlete must be treated with dignity and respect, and athletes will only need to be screened once during their career. There needs to be clear training around the process of accessing counseling along with expert medical guidance.”
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