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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced Thursday that it is adopting a new policy that will ensure that only biological females compete in women’s competitions.
The new policy also uses genetic testing to verify the biological sex of competitors in the women’s section.
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“Eligibility for any women’s event at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, including individual and team sports, is now limited to biological females, determined based on a one-time SRY gene screening,” the new policy states.
“Evidence-based and expert-informed, the policy – applicable from the LA28 Olympic Games – protects fairness, safety and integrity in the women’s category.”
The test can be done via saliva, cheek swab, or blood sample.
The IOC said it made the decision to implement the policy after consulting a group of experts, with the aim of providing equal opportunities for women in sport.
“The policy has been developed on the basis that it is universally recognized that there is a need for a women’s category to allow men and women equal access to elite sport,” the IOC said in a statement.
“It was guided by the IOC’s modern goals of equality (equal opportunities for female athletes in finals, on podiums and at championships), strengthening Olympic value (with women’s and men’s finals in all sports) and visibility and inspiration (celebrating female athletes on the Olympic podium to inspire and represent women and girls around the world).”
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IOC President Kristy Coventry suggested in her announcement that keeping men in women’s sports was “not safe”.
“As a former athlete, I believe passionately in the right of all Olympians to compete fairly. The policy we have announced is based on science and has been led by medical experts. At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can make the difference between victory and defeat,” Coventry said.
“So it is absolutely clear that it would not be right for biological males to compete in the women’s category. Furthermore, in some sports it simply would not be safe.”
A presentation during a World Athletics A panel meeting in Tokyo in September found that 50 to 60 athletes with male biological advantages had been finalists in the women’s category at world and continental championships since 2000.
The panel was led by World Athletics Head of Health and Science, Dr Stéphane Bermon, who said: sex tests were necessary due to an “overrepresentation” of DSD (differences of sexual development) athletes among the finalists, according to multiple reports.
Last October, the United Nations said nearly 900 biological women did not make the podium because they were beaten by trans athletes.
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The Olympic rings at the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). (LAURENT GILLIERON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The findings were compiled by Reem Alsalem, UN rapporteur on violence against women and titled “Violence against women and girls in sport.”
The report said more than 600 athletes failed to medal in more than 400 competitions in 29 sports, totaling more than 890 medals, according to information obtained as of March 30.
