Summarised by Centrist

The International Olympic Committee has announced that women’s competitions at the Olympic Games will be limited to athletes who are biologically female, with the policy set to take effect from the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

Under the new framework, eligibility for the female category will be determined through a “once-in-a-lifetime” genetic cheek swab test designed to detect the SRY gene on the Y chromosome.

The policy will exclude post-puberty transgender women and athletes with differences in sexual development (DSD) who possess male chromosomes from competing in women’s events. International sports federations are expected to align their rules accordingly.

IOC president Kirsty Coventry said the policy would be guided by medical expertise and aimed at ensuring fairness and safety in competition. She stated that “it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category” and noted that in some sports, it could present safety concerns.

The decision follows controversy at the recent Olympic Games. At Tokyo 2021, New Zealand’s Laurel Hubbard competed in women’s weightlifting. At Paris 2024, boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting won gold medals in women’s boxing after previously being disqualified from world championships following sex testing.

The IOC’s previous 2021 framework prioritised inclusion based on gender identity. Several international federations, including World Athletics, World Swimming and World Cycling, have since adopted rules restricting post-puberty males from women’s competition.

The new Olympic policy will not apply retroactively, meaning past results will remain unchanged.

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