Transgender women athletes banned from female events at Olympics by IOC

Coventry said the decision, which applies to elite individual and team sports, was based on science and would protect the fairness and safety of women’s sport

BANNED: The International Olympic Committee has announced that transgender women will be banned from competing as females from the 2028 Games. Pic: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026 - 16:26

Sean Ingle

The International Olympic Committee has banned transgender women and DSD athletes from the female category of events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and future Games. Kirsty Coventry, president of the IOC, said: “It would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category.” The IOC has also confirmed that all athletes wanting to compete in the female category at future Olympics will have to undergo a one-off SRY (sex determining region Y gene) gene screening to detect their biological sex. Usually that is done via a non-intrusive cheek-swab or saliva test.

Coventry said the decision, which applies to elite individual and team sports, was based on science and would protect the fairness and safety of women’s sport. “As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition.