The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that beginning in 2028, women’s sports will be limited to biological females.
According to an IOC press release, it is a step forward for fairness and safety in women’s athletics.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry stated the policy is “based on science” and aims to ensure fairness and safety, noting that “male sex provides a performance advantage in all sports and events that rely on strength, power and endurance” The new policy includes targeted screening, effective date, scope and exceptions. The screening test checks for the SRY gene on the Y chromosome (via saliva or cheek swab), which is a marker for male sex development and bans transgender women who have gone through male puberty and generally excludes athletes with Certain Differences in Sex Development (DSD) who have XY chromosomes, with a rare exception applying to DSD athletes with Comple Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS) who do not benefit from male pubertal development.
The policy is for all disciplines on the sports program of an IOC event, including the Olympic Games and for both individual and team sports, with eligibility for any female category limited to biological females. The new rules are not retroactive. Coventry said: “The policy that we have announced is based on science and has been led by medical experts. 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. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.
“Every athlete must be treated with dignity and respect, and athletes will need to be screened only once in their lifetime. There must be clear education around the process and counselling available, alongside expert medical advice.”
The policy follows an IOC review between September 2024 and March 2026 and included consideration of the IOC’s policy goals for the female category, which are, in addition to ensuring fairness, safety and integrity in elite competition, to promote equality, enhance Olympic value and increase visibility for the female category.
As part of the review, in September 2025 the IOC established a working group to specifically examine scientific, medical and legal developments since 2021. The working group members came from all five continents and included specialists in sports science, endocrinology, transgender medicine, sports medicine, women’s health, ethics and law. International Federation Chief Medical Officers representing individual and team sports were also included.