Why IOC banned transgender women from Olympics as Kirsty Coventry cites fairness and gene testing

The International Olympic Committee has made a big decision that will impact future Olympic Games. Transgender women will no longer be allowed to compete in women’s events. This new rule was confirmed on Thursday after a meeting in Geneva. It will officially apply from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The policy says that only biological females can take part in women’s categories at the Olympics. To confirm this, athletes will now have to go through a one-time gene test in their career. The IOC said this decision is about keeping competition fair and safe. This move has already started strong reactions across the sports world.

International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry explains new transgender women policy and fairness concerns

IOC president Kirsty Coventry spoke clearly about why this rule was introduced. She said, “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category.”

According to the IOC, the new rule is based on research. The organization said people born male may have physical advantages in strength, speed, and endurance. The official document explains that males go through three testosterone phases in life, which can impact performance later in sports.

The IOC also confirmed that this rule will not apply to past events. It is not retroactive. It also does not affect local or recreational sports. The focus is only on Olympic-level competitions.

At the same time, the policy also affects some athletes with differences in sex development, known as DSD. One well-known case is Caster Semenya, a two-time Olympic champion. She has been involved in a long legal battle over similar eligibility rules.

It is still unclear how many transgender athletes compete at this level. At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Laurel Hubbard became the first openly transgender woman to compete, but she did not win a medal. No transgender women competed at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

This decision also comes after political pressure in the United States. In 2025, Donald Trump signed an executive order focused on restricting transgender athletes in women’s sports. The IOC’s new rule is seen as aligned with that direction ahead of the Los Angeles Games.

The committee says the gene test used will check for the SRY gene, which is linked to male development. The IOC called it “the most accurate and least intrusive method currently available.”

Still, not everyone agrees. Human rights groups are expected to question this move. As the Olympics move closer to 2028, this decision is likely to remain a major talking point in global sports.