IOC introduces new Women’s category Policy
The International Olympic Committee has announced a new policy that will change how eligibility for women’s events is determined at future Olympic Games.
The rule will come into effect from LA 2028 and won’t apply to past competitions.
At the centre of it:
Only biological females will be eligible for the women’s category
Determined through a one-time SRY gene test
The IOC says this is about fairness and safety in competition.
According to the policy, the presence of the SRY gene is used as an indicator of male biological development, and testing will only need to be done once in an athlete’s career.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry explained the reasoning:
“At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat.” “It would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category.”
She also stressed that athletes should still be treated with dignity and respect, with proper support and education around the process.
The policy does not apply to grassroots or recreational sport, only elite competitions under IOC events.
Athletes who don’t meet the criteria will still be able to compete in male categories, mixed events, and open categories
The IOC says the goal is to protect fairness, safety, and integrity of women’s sport
