New Delhi: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided that transgender women will no longer be allowed to compete in women’s events at the Olympics starting from the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The move brings a strict eligibility rule, stating that only biological women can participate, with a mandatory one-time gene test to confirm.The IOC said the change was aimed at ensuring fair competition. “Eligibility for any event in the women’s category at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event is now limited to biological women,” Bodi said. The policy, which is not retrospective and will not affect grassroots sports, aims to “protect fairness, safety and integrity in the women’s category”.IOC President Christy Coventry supported the decision, saying, “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest of margins can be the difference between victory and defeat… It would not be appropriate for biological males to compete in the female category.”The IOC also pointed to research showing that being born male can provide long-lasting physical benefits, particularly in strength, endurance and power-based sports. The gene test testing for the SRY gene has been described as “the most accurate and least invasive method currently available.”The new rules will also affect some athletes with differences in sexual development (DSD), such as runner Caster Semenya. The IOC wants a clear, unified policy rather than leaving the decision up to individual sporting bodies, many of which already impose similar restrictions.The decision comes amid growing global debate and follows a US executive order calling for tougher rules in women’s sports. Although the IOC says the policy ensures fairness, it is expected to face criticism from human rights groups and activists.
