The International Olympic Committee (IOC) are progressing towards a blanket ban of transgender women competing in Women’s sports. This change in attitude comes from a presentation to the IOC arguing the physical advantage transgender women have when competing alongside women in sports.
With a move which could reshape the the future of gender eligibility in sports, the IOC are moving towards a ban of transgender women in female categories in the Olympics, which is estimated to be actioned by the time of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. At the centre of this push, the IOC’s medical officer, Dr Jane Thornton, who presented a case to the Olympic committee arguing the physical advantages transgender women hold in female sports categories.
In September 2025, Kate Conventry, the President of IOC, established the Protection of Female category which prioritises fairness and safety within Womens sports stating ‘there is overwhelming support’ within the IOC committee for this establishment.
As it stands, no final decisions regarding the topic have been confirmed and discussions within the committee are still underway.
This discussion followed international pressure from US president Donald Trump, who earlier introduced an Executive Order banning transgender women from female sports. Titled ‘ Keeping Men out of Women sport’s’, the order mentions equality and fairness within sports and women’s safety when competing in women’s sports. Donald Trump also later stated, “In Los Angeles 2028, my administration will not stand by and watch men beat and batter female athletes”.
The moves from Donald Trump have added immense pressure to the IOC’s discussion and internal debates surrounding the subject.
If enacted, the change would mark one of the largest shifts in Olympic policy by redefining who can and cannot compete in the Olympics Games. For transgender women, it could mean exclusion from elite sports.
For many supporters of female categories, this debate is not only surrounding competition but also identity and equal rights. As the IOC continue to move closer to a decision, the sporting world will be forced to face with emotionally charged questions and one of its most contested issues.
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