The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is set to implement a new policy that will prohibit transgender female athletes from competing against biological women in Olympic events. This decision has sparked significant debate and discussion, particularly regarding the fairness of competition and the rights of transgender athletes. The policy, which reportedly includes transgender athletes with differences of sex development (DSD), is expected to take effect following the IOC’s upcoming session in February, prior to the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Previously, the IOC’s guidelines allowed individual sports organizations to set their own policies regarding transgender athletes. However, with the change in leadership, the IOC has reportedly shifted its stance, with new policies set to be announced. This shift comes after a presentation by Dr. Jane Thornton, the IOC’s medical and scientific director, which reportedly highlighted physical advantages in transgender athletes, including those who had taken treatments to reduce testosterone levels. According to reports, Dr. Thornton’s presentation was seen as scientific and unemotional.
The proposed policy is expected to affect athletes with DSD, who are those who were raised as female but born with male traits. In the past, Olympic boxing faced significant controversies with athletes like Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting, who won gold medals in their respective weight classes despite major uproar. Both athletes were raised as female, but their cases raised questions about their eligibility. World Boxing has since implemented mandatory sex testing for its competitors, and Khelif will not be eligible to compete unless the test is completed.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry has called for protecting the women’s category in sports, arguing that it is essential to ensure fairness in Olympic competition. She emphasized the need for a scientific approach and the inclusion of international federations that have already conducted extensive research in this area. The new policy is expected to be announced at the IOC session in February, with the aim of ensuring the integrity and fairness of women’s sports events at the Olympics.
The announcement has generated mixed reactions, with support from some members of the IOC and others expressing concerns about discrimination and the rights of transgender athletes. As the policy is set to be implemented in the coming months, the Olympic community and the wider public will be closely watching its implications for the future of sports.