The International Olympic Committee is moving closer to introducing a blanket ban on transgender women competing in female categories across all sports.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry, a seven-time Olympic medallist, has vowed to bring in the policy as part of her election campaign and has set up a working group focused on protecting women’s sport.
The IOC stated that discussions are ongoing and no final decisions have been made. However, after a presentation by its medical chief, Dr. Jane Thornton, reports suggest that a ban could be implemented by 2026. Thornton’s review indicated that athletes born male may retain physiological advantages even after reducing testosterone levels.
While a universal ban is unlikely before the 2026 Winter Olympics, it could be introduced ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Previously, eligibility rules were left to individual sports’ governing bodies, often allowing transgender women to compete if they met testosterone limits.
Coventry emphasized the need for consensus, noting that IOC members had shown “overwhelming support” for protecting female sport categories. The move signals a potential major shift in how the IOC handles sex eligibility regulations worldwide.
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