The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is preparing to implement a new policy that will restrict transgender female athletes from competing against biological women in Olympic events. This policy is also expected to address athletes with differences of sex development (DSD), a condition where individuals are born with variations in sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female. The move signals a significant shift in the IOC’s approach to gender and competition, reflecting ongoing debates about fairness and inclusion in sports.
Currently, the IOC allows individual sports’ governing bodies to establish their own rules regarding the participation of transgender athletes. This decentralized approach has led to a patchwork of policies across different sports, often resulting in controversy and confusion. However, with recent changes in IOC leadership, the organization appears set to adopt a more unified and stringent stance. According to reports from The Times of London, the IOC’s policy on transgender athletes is poised to become more restrictive, aiming to “protect” the women’s category in sports.
Kirsty Coventry, who became the IOC President in March 2025, has been vocal about the need to safeguard fairness in women’s events. In June, she emphasized the importance of protecting the female category while acknowledging that policies might need to vary depending on the sport. Coventry stated, “We understand that there'll be differences depending on the sport … but it was very clear from the members that we have to protect the female category, first and foremost to ensure fairness.” She also highlighted the necessity of employing a scientific approach and collaborating with international federations, many of which have already conducted extensive work on this issue.
The forthcoming policy update is expected to be formally announced during the IOC session scheduled for February 2026, just ahead of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy. This development follows a recent presentation by Dr. Jane Thornton, the IOC’s medical and scientific director, who provided a detailed scientific briefing on the physiological differences between males and females, even when testosterone suppression treatments are applied. According to sources, Thornton’s presentation was notably scientific and devoid of emotional bias, focusing on empirical evidence about physical advantages retained by transgender females.
An IOC spokesperson clarified that while the working group continues to deliberate on the topic, no final decisions have been made yet. They assured that further information would be shared in due course, underscoring the ongoing nature of the discussions within the committee.
A key aspect of the new policy will likely include athletes with differences of sex development (DSD). These athletes typically are raised as female but possess biological traits traditionally associated with males. The inclusion of DSD athletes in women’s competitions has been a contentious issue, highlighted by recent controversies in Olympic boxing. Two prominent cases involved Algerian boxer Imane Khelif and Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-Ting, both of whom won gold medals in their respective women’s weight classes amid significant disputes over gender eligibility.
Imane Khelif has consistently maintained that she is female, despite challenges and gender verification procedures. Lin Yu-Ting, on the other hand, has remained silent since the conclusion of the Olympic Games regarding the controversy. In response to these disputes, World Boxing has instituted mandatory sex testing for competitors, and Khelif will be required to complete such testing before being allowed to compete again. This move reflects a broader trend across sports to implement more rigorous eligibility checks in the wake of heightened scrutiny over gender categories.
The IOC’s potential new policy comes at a time when the participation of transgender athletes in competitive sports is a globally debated topic. Advocates for transgender inclusion argue that sports should be accessible to all athletes regardless of gender identity, emphasizing inclusion and human rights. Meanwhile, opponents stress the importance of maintaining a level playing field, pointing to biological differences that could confer competitive advantages and potentially undermine fairness, especially in women’s sports.
Kirsty Coventry’s call to “protect” the women’s category aligns with concerns raised by many athletes and sports organizations worldwide. The phrase reflects a desire to ensure that women’s sports remain fair and competitive, without being compromised by participants who may have inherent physiological advantages due to male puberty or genetic factors. By emphasizing a “scientific approach,” the IOC signals its intention to ground policy decisions in research and data rather than politics or public opinion.
The timing of this policy shift is significant as it precedes the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, one of the next major global sporting events. The IOC’s decision will likely influence how sports federations around the world approach transgender athlete participation and could set new precedents