IOC Bans Transgender Women From Women's Olympic Events

New policy aligns with Trump executive order ahead of 2028 LA Games

Mar. 26, 2026 at 6:20pm

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The International Olympic Committee has announced a new policy that excludes transgender women from competing in women's events at the Olympics. The policy, which aligns with a 2021 executive order by former U.S. President Donald Trump, will take effect starting with the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The IOC cited physical advantages that come from being born male as the reason for the ban.

Why it matters

The decision is likely to be controversial, with human rights groups and activists expected to criticize the mandatory gender screening required under the new policy. It also raises questions about fairness and inclusion in elite women's sports.

The details

The IOC's new policy states that 'eligibility for any female category event at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, including individual and team sports, is now limited to biological females.' This will be determined through a mandatory gene test that screens for the 'SRY gene,' which indicates the presence of testes. The policy is not retroactive and does not apply to grassroots or recreational sports programs.

  • The new policy will take effect starting with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
  • In February 2021, former U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order 'Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports'.

The players

International Olympic Committee (IOC)

The international governing body for the Olympic Games.

Kirsty Coventry

The first woman to lead the IOC in its 132-year history, who set up a review of 'protecting the female category' as one of her first big decisions last June.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. President who signed an executive order in 2021 aimed at excluding transgender athletes from women's sports.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Kirsty Coventry, IOC President

What’s next

The new IOC policy will be implemented starting with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and it remains to be seen how it will be received by human rights groups and the broader sports community.

The takeaway

The IOC's decision to ban transgender women from competing in women's Olympic events is a controversial move that prioritizes concerns about fairness and physical advantages over inclusivity. It highlights the ongoing debate around the participation of transgender athletes in elite women's sports.