No IOC Decision Yet on Transgender Athletes’ Eligibility

In a move provoking strong worldwide reaction, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is reportedly approaching a comprehensive ban on transgender women competing in female categories across all sports. However, the status of athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) remains uncertain.

The IOC had previously left gender regulations to the governing bodies of individual sports, but has recently shifted its stance. Following a June announcement, IOC President Kirsty Coventry established a working group in September to protect the female category as part of the “Fit For The Future” process.

The issue resurfaced recently after the IOC’s Director of Health, Medicine and Science, Dr Jane Thornton, provided an update to IOC members during the IOC Commission meetings last week. Dr Thornton revealed initial findings from the science-based review, which suggest that athletes assigned male at birth retain certain physiological advantages even after testosterone levels are lowered. However, the IOC emphasised that no final decision has yet been made.

The ban is unlikely to be enforced before the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics next February and is expected to be introduced ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Games.