The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is reportedly preparing to introduce a worldwide ban preventing transgender women from competing in female sports categories.
The new policy, expected to take effect in 2026, represents a significant shift in how international sport addresses issues of gender and competitive fairness.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry, a seven-time Olympic medallist, has made the topic a cornerstone of her leadership agenda, establishing a dedicated working group to protect the integrity of women’s competitions.
Although the IOC maintains that “no final decisions have been made,” insiders indicate that a concrete policy is already under development.
According to sources cited by BBC Sport, a recent medical review has made a blanket prohibition the most likely outcome.
The IOC’s Medical and Scientific Director, Dr. Jane Thornton, stated that preliminary research suggests athletes assigned male at birth retain physical advantages even after lowering testosterone levels.
The restriction is anticipated to be in place before the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, though it will not apply to the 2026 Winter Games.
Coventry has emphasized that the IOC should “take a leading role” in ensuring fairness for female athletes. She told BBC Sport earlier this year, “We must strike the right balance, and the IOC is best positioned to lead that conversation.”
Historically, the IOC allowed individual sporting federations to determine transgender eligibility, with many permitting transgender women to compete once they met certain hormone thresholds.
Under Coventry’s direction, the committee is moving toward a single global standard, aiming to “achieve consensus” and uphold the integrity of women’s competitions.
She added that IOC members have expressed “overwhelming support” for measures safeguarding female-only categories.
However, the proposed approach has faced criticism. The International Paralympic Committee president cautioned against “blanket solutions,” arguing that decisions regarding transgender participation should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
