Transgender women are set to be prohibited from participating in women’s events at the Olympic Games. This decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stems from a scientific review highlighting the inherent physical advantages of being biologically male.
A report published by The Times indicates that the IOC is expected to unveil this new policy early next year. Previously, the IOC allowed transgender women to compete with reduced testosterone levels, delegating the final decision to individual sports bodies.
Under the leadership of new president Kirsty Coventry, the IOC is shifting its stance to safeguard the integrity of women’s sports. Dr. Jane Thornton, the committee’s medical and scientific director and a former Canadian Olympic rower, presented the initial findings of the review to IOC members during a recent meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Thornton’s presentation emphasized the scientific evidence supporting the lasting physical advantages associated with being born male, even after undergoing testosterone level reductions. Sources described the presentation as factual and backed by clear evidence, receiving positive feedback from IOC members.
The IOC’s forthcoming policy update is anticipated in early 2026, potentially coinciding with the Winter Olympics session in February. Coventry, a former Zimbabwean Olympic swimmer elected as president this year, emphasized the importance of protecting the female category while collaborating with international federations and stakeholders based on a scientific foundation.
In a related development, during the boxing tournament at the Paris Olympics, gold medals were won by two boxers, Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting from Taiwan, despite being disqualified from the prior year’s World Championships due to alleged gender eligibility issues. The newly recognized World Boxing federation, sanctioned by the IOC post-Paris, has introduced mandatory sex testing, with Khelif required to comply before competing in the female category.
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