IOC imposes genetic testing to protect women’s sport
The International Olympic Committee announces a new policy for women’s sports, mandating genetic testing to ensure only biological females compete, citing fairness and safety. Former Olympian Kirsty Coventry and others are advocating for the policy, with Caitlyn Jenner noting a “domino effect” on other sporting organizations. The move comes as U.S. gas prices rise, affecting Americans’ personal financial situations, with a PK Press Club poll showing 46% are behind financially.
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Former US women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe has criticized the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for implementing a new policy aimed at ensuring fairness in women’s competitions.
The IOC stated that “eligibility for any women’s category 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.”
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Groups of protesters stand outside the U.S. Supreme Court as justices hear the landmark case to decide whether transgender girls should be allowed to participate in girls’ and women’s sports, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. Credit: Andrew Thomas / CNP (Andrew Thomas/CNP for PK Press Club Digital)
The organization added that the policy was “evidence-based” and “informed by experts”. The test can be done via saliva, cheek swab, or blood sample.
A presentation at a World Athletics panel in Tokyo in September revealed that 50 to 60 athletes with male biological advantages have 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 testing was necessary due to an “over-representation” of DSD (differences of sexual development) athletes among the finalists, according to multiple reports.
However, Rapinoe rejected this policy in the latest issue of her podcast “A Touch More.”
“Unfortunately, we have to say that in the same breath a truly horrible rule was issued by the International Olympic Committee,” Rapinoe said in praising the transgender community. “They announced a new policy that they call, I can’t even believe they’re calling it that because it has nothing to do with protecting women. I feel like two people, who have played at the highest level in every competition possible, disagree with that and never felt like it was an issue at all, “Protecting Women. [Women’s] Category.'”
Rapinoe rejected the idea that the policy was rooted in science and said the IOC was subjecting women to “invasive testing.”
A protester for the protection of women’s sports gathers in front of the Supreme Court on January 13, 2026 in Washington, DC. Groups on both sides of the debate gathered Tuesday morning to protest as two cases banning transgender girls from joining girls’ and women’s sports teams are heard at the Supreme Court. (Heather Diehl/Getty Images)
OLYMPIANS REACT TO IOC POLICY CHANGE TO PROTECT WOMEN’S SPORT
“We already know that biology, even though we want it to just be nice and clean and tight and perfectly in one category and another, that’s not the case,” Rapinoe said. “We know that. So now what we’re doing is subjecting everyone, all women and everyone who identifies as women, to this really invasive test that, to me alone, says, ‘Oh, we’re just trying to narrow it down to a certain type of woman. Is that what we’re doing? That’s really the whole game here.’
“They kind of lost the battle on same-sex marriage and all these things, so it’s like, ‘We’re going to run this whole campaign for all these years to just hate trans people,’ who are such a small percentage of the population. Really, it’s one-handed when we’re talking about sports. And just like threading the needle thread as tight as possible.”
Rapinoe added that the IOC only implemented the rule to appease President Donald Trump’s administration.
“This committee is presenting it as being science-based, which it’s not,” she said. “Ultimately it will just prevent people from competing in the women’s category to the point where it feels like they have an unfair advantage. It’s just really hateful. There have been so few trans athletes or competing as trans and it’s so blatant on the face of it. It’s a complete acquiescence to the Trump administration and really right-wing conservative politics that really just stirs up so much hate against such a small percentage of people who are just trying to living their lives. It’s just horrible and I’m just it makes me really sick.”
File – Megan Rapinoe #15 of Team USA lines up before the women’s soccer Group G match between the United States and Australia during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Kashima Stadium on July 27, 2021 in Kashima, Japan. (Hector Vivas/FIFA)
Conversely, several Olympians supported the IOC’s decision.
Kaillie Humphries, a three-time Olympic gold medalist for the United States and Canada, was one of them.
“Today is a great day for women’s sports and a great victory in the Olympic world,” she told PK Press Club Digital last month. “By implementing gender testing, it will allow for fair competition. This was happening years ago, and by bringing it back, it will protect the women’s category. I think it’s very appropriate that LA28 is the games that protects women’s sports, because it’s something our president has championed.”
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