International Olympic Committee announces new policy on the protection of the female category in Olympic sport

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a new Policy on the protection of the female category in Olympic sport, along with guiding considerations for international federations and sports governing bodies.

Following approval by the IOC Executive Board today, the policy will come into effect starting with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and will not be applied retroactively.

The policy states that, for all disciplines on the sports programme of an IOC event, including the Olympic Games, and for both individual and team sports, eligibility for any female category is restricted to biological women.

Eligibility for the female category will be determined primarily through a test for the SRY gene to detect its absence or presence.

Based on scientific evidence, the IOC considers that the presence of the SRY gene is permanent and constitutes a highly accurate indicator that an athlete has undergone male sexual development. Furthermore, the IOC considers that detection of the SRY gene through saliva samples, buccal swabs or blood tests is a minimally invasive method compared to other possible approaches.

Athletes who test negative for the SRY gene permanently meet the eligibility criteria under this policy to compete in the female category. Unless there are reasons to believe a negative result is inaccurate, this test will only be required once in a lifetime.

With the rare exception of athletes diagnosed with Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS) or other rare differences/disorders of sex development (DSD) who do not benefit from the anabolic and/or performance-enhancing effects of testosterone, no athlete with a positive SRY test result is eligible to compete in the female category at an IOC event.

Athletes with a positive SRY test result, including XY transgender athletes and androgen-sensitive XY-DSD athletes, remain eligible to compete in all other categories for which they qualify. For example, they may participate in any male category, including designated male quotas within mixed events, in open categories, or in sports and events that do not classify athletes by sex.

Regarding the policy, IOC President Kirsty Coventry stated:
“As a former athlete, I strongly believe in the right of all Olympic athletes to compete in a fair environment. The policy we have announced is based on science and has been developed by medical experts. At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can make the difference between victory and defeat. Therefore, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological men to compete in the female category. Moreover, in some sports, it simply would not be safe.”

She continued: “All athletes must be treated with dignity and respect, and they will only need to undergo a medical test once in their lifetime. There must be clear information about the process and access to guidance, along with expert support.”