IOC Adopts Universal One-Time SRY Gene Test To Restrict Female Category To Biological Females

The policy declares that eligibility for any female-category event ‘is now limited to biological females,’ determined by a one-time genetic screening.

It will apply starting with the Los Angeles 2028 Games and is not retroactive.

ABC Noticias

Transgender women would be barred from female-event competition, with rare exceptions for CAIS or similar DSD conditions.

The IOC frames the change as safeguarding fairness, safety, and integrity in women’s competition across IOC events.

This is presented as a global, universal standard rather than a federation-by-federation approach.

The screening can be performed through saliva, cheek swab, or blood sample.

Officials say the framework prioritizes athlete privacy and well-being, with education and counseling available throughout the process.

“GENEVA, March 26 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- The International Olympic Committee on Thursday approved a new policy restricting participation in women’s Olympic events to biological females, beginning with the Los Angeles 2028 Games”

Bernama

The rule is not retroactive and does not affect grassroots sports.

The measure arose from an 18-month consultation and a working group that concluded male sex provides performance advantages in strength, power, and endurance.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry framed the shift as scientifically grounded and necessary to protect fair competition.

Western outlets reference gender-eligibility controversies at Paris 2024, including boxing disputes in the wake of the IBA cases.

Non-Western outlets frame the move as a global governance shift toward uniform rules for elite competition.

CBS News

Critics warn that the measure could exclude athletes who identified as women, while supporters argue it protects fairness and safety.

The policy is read as reshaping power dynamics in global sport governance across multiple regions.

Non-Western outlets stress that a universal standard will shape participation across regions beyond Europe and North America.

“LATEST STORIES: Transgender women athletes are now excluded from Olympics women’s categories after the International Olympics Committee (IOC) agreed to a new eligibility policy Thursday”

CHCH TV

Analysts point to potential privacy and rights concerns amid new genetic testing requirements.

CHCH TV

Rights groups warn about exclusions for intersex athletes and other DS conditions that do not confer testosterone advantages.

The move tests how global sport mediates science, fairness, and human rights across diverse legal and cultural contexts.