The International Olympic Committee bans trans women athletes from future Games

By Katie Dusza

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has banned transgender women from competing in the female category of events starting in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, as well as future Games. 

According to the president of the IOC, Kirsty Coventry, the decision was made because “it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category.” Coventry claims, “The policy that we have announced is based on science and has been led by medical experts. 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. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.” She went on to say, “As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition,” she said.

This ruling requires that all athletes looking to compete in female events in the future Olympic Games will have to participate in an SRY (sex determining region Y gene) screening. This is done by a cheek-swab or saliva test to determine the athlete’s biological sex. 

Transgender athletes in sports have been a pressing topic for a while now. In 2021, Laurel Hubbard was the first out trans woman to ever participate in the Games. Hubbord, from New Zealand, competed in the weightlifting event. At the time, the IOC praised Hubbord’s “courage and tenacity” prior to her competing. The IOC’s medical and science director, Dr. Richard Budgett, said “everyone agrees that trans women are women.” Further backing Hubbard's right to compete he said, “To put it in a nutshell, the IOC had a scientific consensus back in 2015.” He added, “There are no IOC rules or regulations around transgender participation. That depends on each international federation. So Laurel Hubbard is a woman, and is competing under the rules of her federation, and we have to pay tribute to her courage and tenacity in actually competing and qualifying for the Games.”

This ban against trans women also applies to athletes with disorders of sex development (DSD) where chromosomal or anatomical sex development does not fit typical male or female definitions. There have been multiple cases of DSD athletes, who were reported female at birth but have male chromosomes and male testosterone levels, who have won Olympic medals. 

The IOC’s policy is 10 pages long where they stress their belief that transgender women and athletes with DSD retain the advantages of going through male puberty. 

This decision has garnered disappointment, especially after the IOC’s prior allegiance to trans women and DSD athletes. The charity Dsdfamilies stated,  “Fairness in competition is important, but eligibility rules must also be proportionate and aligned with contemporary standards of DSD care, rather than creating foreseeable and avoidable harm to this vulnerable minority group,” its spokesperson Ellie Magritte said. “We are concerned that proposed processes do not always demonstrate the level of understanding, dignity and respect that this issue requires.” Supporters of the transgender and DSD communities note the harmful nature of this ruling towards their rights. Especially in a time of such political polarization and strong notions against trans and DSD people, critics wonder if the ruling is a way to further suppress trans people, rather than being a safety measure as the IOC claims.