Transgender women will no longer be permitted to participate in women’s events at the Olympic Games due to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision based on scientific research showing the lasting physical advantages of being biologically male.
A recent report from The Times indicates that the IOC is expected to unveil its revised policy early next year. Previously, the IOC allowed transgender women to compete with reduced testosterone levels, leaving the final decision to individual sports organizations.
Under the leadership of new president Kirsty Coventry, the IOC is shifting its stance to prioritize safeguarding the integrity of women’s sports. Dr. Jane Thornton, the committee’s medical and scientific director and a former Canadian Olympic rower, presented the initial findings of the review to IOC members during a recent meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. The evidence highlighted enduring physical benefits of being born male, even after undergoing testosterone level treatments.
The presentation was described as factual and objective, emphasizing the scientific evidence. Positive feedback was reportedly received from IOC members following the meeting.
The current statement on Olympics.com emphasizes non-discrimination based on gender identity or sex characteristics for athletes who qualify and meet eligibility criteria set by their respective International Federations (IFs).
Controversy arose during the boxing tournament at the Paris Olympics when two boxers, Imane Khelif from Algeria and Lin Yu-Ting from Taiwan, both won gold medals despite being disqualified in the previous year’s World Championships for allegedly not meeting gender eligibility standards. The IOC-recognized World Boxing, the new international federation, has now implemented compulsory sex testing, requiring athletes like Khelif to undergo testing before competing in the female category.
The IOC is expected to announce its updated policy in early 2026, potentially coinciding with the Winter Olympics session in February. Coventry, a former Olympic swimmer from Zimbabwe elected this year, emphasized the importance of upholding the integrity of women’s sports, acknowledging variations across different sports and the need for a scientific and collaborative approach with international federations.
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