Transgender females are set to be prohibited from participating in women-only competitions at the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided on this course of action following a scientific evaluation that highlighted the enduring physical advantages individuals born biologically male possess.
According to a report by The Times, the IOC is expected to unveil its updated policy early next year. The current guidance allowed transgender women to compete with reduced testosterone levels, leaving the final decision to individual sports federations.
Under the leadership of new president Kirsty Coventry, the IOC is pivoting to safeguard the integrity of women’s sports. Dr. Jane Thornton, the committee’s medical and scientific director and a former Olympic rower from Canada, recently presented the preliminary findings of the review to IOC members at a meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Dr. Thornton emphasized that scientific evidence supports the notion that physical advantages linked to being biologically male persist even after hormone therapy to lower testosterone levels. Attendees described the presentation as factual and objective, prompting positive responses from IOC members.
The IOC is anticipated to officially announce the updated policy in early 2026, potentially coinciding with the Winter Olympics session in February. Coventry, a retired Olympic swimmer from Zimbabwe elected this year, stressed the importance of protecting women’s sports while acknowledging the need for scientific input and collaboration with international sports federations.
In related developments, mandatory gender verification has been introduced by World Boxing, the newly recognized international boxing federation, following controversies at the Paris Olympics involving disqualified boxers Imane Khelif from Algeria and Lin Yu-Ting from Taiwan. This measure aims to ensure fair competition and compliance with gender eligibility standards.
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