On March 26, Leisu Sports reported that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially announced today that eligibility for any women’s events in the Olympics or other IOC events (including individual and team sports) is limited to biological women, as determined by a one-time gene screening.
Official Announcement
The policy explains that for all events within IOC sports, including the Olympics, eligibility for any women’s category is limited to biological women.
First, the SRY gene screening must be conducted to determine female eligibility by checking for the presence of the SRY gene.
This policy is evidence-based and has been developed with reference to expert opinions, applicable for the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028 and beyond, aiming to protect the fairness, safety, and integrity of women’s categories. The regulation is not retroactive and does not apply to any grassroots or recreational sports events.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry commented on this policy: “As a former athlete, I firmly believe that all Olympic competitors deserve the right to fair competition. The policy we announce is based on science and led by medical experts. In the Olympics, even the smallest margin can determine victory or defeat. Therefore, allowing biological males to compete in women’s events is clearly unfair. Additionally, there are safety risks in certain sports when doing so.”