Madrid, Spain.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has ratified its position on the participation of transgender athletes in the Olympic Games, establishing clear criteria for their eligibility and participation.
The regulations, issued after a decision made on March 26th, specify that only biological women will be able to compete in women’s events starting with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. This measure will not be retroactive, so previous results will not be affected.
Participation and Categories
The IOC, led by Kirsty Coventry, has emphasized that this regulation does not exclude transgender athletes. Those who meet the requirements will be able to compete, but they must do so in the category that corresponds to their biological sex.
Eligibility Tests
To determine participation in the female category, a test to detect the SRY gene, associated with male biological development, will be implemented. This examination, considered reliable by the organization, will be performed only once and non-invasively.
The IOC considers exceptions in specific cases, such as certain rare genetic disorders, including androgen insensitivity syndrome, which could allow participation in the female category after additional evaluations.
Additionally, the organization indicated that some international federations may request exceptions in disciplines where sex does not represent a significant competitive advantage, as is the case in equestrian sports.
Conditions and Application
Athletes who decide not to undergo eligibility tests will not be able to compete in the women’s category in future Olympic editions. In the case of minors, validation may be carried out with the consent of their guardians, and will be mandatory at the Youth Olympic Games from 2030.
The IOC explained that this update responds to recent scientific advances and consultations with independent experts, federations, and representatives of the Olympic movement.
Finally, the organization reiterated that all results from previous competitions, including those from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, remain unchanged, as they complied with the regulations in force at the time.
