IOC Imposes New Gene Test Requirement for Women's Events

Critics call the policy unscientific and stigmatizing as it effectively bars transgender women from competing in the female category.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:30pm

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The International Olympic Committee has announced a new policy requiring athletes seeking entry to women's events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and beyond to undergo a one-time genetic test for the SRY gene, typically found on the Y chromosome. The IOC claims this signals 'male sexual development' and an unfair advantage, despite recent research finding no sustained physical edge for transgender women after hormone therapy. The decision has drawn immediate backlash from transgender advocates and some medical experts.

Why it matters

The IOC's new policy represents a significant shift away from its more inclusive 2021 guidance, which had left eligibility decisions to individual sports federations. This move intersects with recent political actions restricting trans athletes' participation in some regions, raising concerns about the fairness and inclusivity of women's sports competitions going forward.

The details

Under the new IOC policy, athletes seeking entry to women's events from the 2028 Los Angeles Games onward must undergo a one-time genetic test for the SRY gene via saliva, cheek swab or blood sample. The IOC claims the presence of this gene, typically found on the Y chromosome, signals 'male sexual development' and thus an unfair advantage, though it has not released new scientific studies to substantiate that claim. This revives a verification measure first introduced in 1992 and abandoned in the 1990s amid criticism and scientific concerns.

  • The new IOC policy will take effect for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and beyond.
  • A February 2023 study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine analyzing over 2,900 transgender women found no sustained physical advantage after one to three years of hormone therapy.

The players

International Olympic Committee (IOC)

The global governing body of the Olympic movement, responsible for setting policies and guidelines for the Olympic Games.

Kirsty Coventry

The current President of the International Olympic Committee, who defended the new policy as aimed at protecting the female category.

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What they’re saying

“The policy is aimed at protecting the female category and ensuring fairness in women's competition.”

— Kirsty Coventry, IOC President

What’s next

The IOC said the policy is part of an evolving process and that it will continue consultations with experts and federations. Legal challenges and divergent national responses are possible as sports bodies adapt their eligibility rules.

The takeaway

The IOC's new gene test requirement for women's events represents a significant shift away from its previous inclusive approach, raising concerns about the fairness and inclusivity of women's sports competitions going forward. The decision intersects with recent political actions restricting trans athletes' participation, underscoring the complex and evolving nature of this issue.