New policy to protect female athletes

The question of transgender women competing at female Olympic events has been explicitly answered by the International Olympic Committee which has adopted a new policy that limits eligibility for any female category to only biological females.

This is a major shift from the IOC’s 2021 framework, which allowed individual sports federations to set their own rules. Here is the statement by IOC President Kirsty Coventry upon release of this news:

We, the International Olympic Committee, have published a policy on the protection of the female category.

I understand that this is a very sensitive topic. As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition. The policy that we have announced is based on science and has been led by medical experts with the best interests of athletes at its heart.

The scientific evidence is very clear. Male chromosomes give performance advantages in sports that rely on strength, power, or endurance.

At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat, so it’s 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 only need to be screened once in their lifetime. There must be clear education around the process with counselling available alongside expert medical advice.

The IOC recognizes the importance of widespread participation in grassroots and recreational sports programs, and the impact that sport has on society. However, the Olympic Games has a focus on elite sport, and in elite sport we must ensure the fairness, safety, and integrity of all competitions within the Games.

While the IOC policy is not intended for grassroots or recreational sports programs, it is to be adopted by International Federations and other sports governing bodies, such as National Olympic Committees, National Federations, and Continental Associations, when exercising their responsibility in implementing eligibility rules in relation to IOC events only.