The decision, revealed on Thursday, will apply across all Olympic women’s events and aims to address concerns related to fairness, safety, and competitive integrity. Further details are expected to be confirmed during a scheduled press conference at 3:15pm (GMT).
IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who assumed office in 2025 following the retirement of Thomas Bach, stated that the ruling seeks to define sex based on biological criteria rather than gender identity. She noted that the decision follows nearly a decade of debate over the inclusion of transgender and DSD athletes in women’s competitions.
Under the new framework, international sports federations are expected to adopt similar rules, effectively restricting trans-identifying male athletes and DSD athletes from female categories.
The issue has remained contentious in recent Olympic history. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard competed in women’s events, sparking global debate. More recently, boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting won gold medals in women’s boxing but were later disqualified after reportedly failing sex tests at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The IOC’s move follows research presented by Dr Jane Thornton, which suggested that biological males may retain athletic advantages over females even after testosterone suppression. Supporting this view, developmental biologist Dr Emma Hilton highlighted findings indicating that men, on average, can punch significantly harder than women.
Coventry said the policy is intended to protect the integrity of women’s sports and prevent future controversies, particularly ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Officials are also considering the implementation of universal genetic sex testing using non-invasive cheek swabs. The IOC emphasized that the approach is designed to be efficient while maintaining athlete privacy and ensuring fair competition.
