Transgender women will no longer be allowed to participate in women’s events at the Olympic Games. The decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) follows a scientific review that highlighted the inherent physical advantages of being biologically male.
According to a report from The Times, the IOC is expected to unveil their new policy early next year. Previously, the IOC permitted transgender women to compete with reduced testosterone levels, leaving the final decision to individual sports federations.
Under the leadership of new president Kirsty Coventry, the IOC is set to alter its position to safeguard the integrity of women’s sports. Dr. Jane Thornton, the committee’s medical and scientific director and a former Canadian Olympic rower, presented the review’s initial findings to IOC members in Lausanne, Switzerland recently.
Dr. Thornton emphasized that scientific evidence demonstrated enduring physical benefits associated with being born male, even after undergoing treatments to decrease testosterone levels. Sources indicated that the presentation was factual and well-received by IOC members.
The current statement on Olympics.com emphasizes non-discrimination based on gender identity or sex characteristics for athletes who qualify through their respective International Federations (IFs).
Controversy arose during the boxing competition at the Paris Olympics when gold medals were won by two boxers, Imane Khelif from Algeria and Lin Yu-Ting from Taiwan, despite being disqualified from the previous year’s World Championships for failing to meet gender eligibility requirements.
World Boxing, the newly recognized international boxing federation, has now implemented mandatory sex testing, indicating that Khelif must undergo testing before being allowed to compete in the women’s category.
The IOC is expected to announce its revised policy in early 2026, possibly coinciding with the Winter Olympics session in February. Coventry stressed the importance of protecting the female category and collaborating with relevant stakeholders and international federations using a scientific approach.
In a separate development, Sky has reduced the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, offering savings of £192 and over 1,400 live matches including Premier League and EFL games. Sky plans to broadcast a minimum of 215 live Premier League matches next season, an increase of up to 100 matches.
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