Geneva, Switzerland — November 10, 2025 | Dalena Reporters
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is reportedly considering a sweeping policy change that could bar all transgender athletes—particularly transgender women—from competing in female categories at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Under the leadership of IOC President Kirsty Coventry, the organization has intensified internal deliberations on gender eligibility in sports, signaling a possible end to the current system that allows international federations to set their own transgender participation rules. According to reports from global sports outlets, including The New York Post and Reuters, the IOC has established a “Protection of the Female Category Working Group” to evaluate scientific, ethical, and legal perspectives surrounding transgender inclusion.
While no formal decision has been announced, sources within the committee suggest that a ban is under active consideration, following growing pressure from several national Olympic committees and sports federations that argue transgender women—athletes assigned male at birth who have undergone any degree of male puberty—retain physiological advantages that may compromise fairness in female competitions.
IOC spokespersons have stressed that the committee has not yet finalized any resolution, stating that its review process remains ongoing and evidence-based. “The IOC has not made any decision regarding transgender eligibility for the 2028 Games,” one official clarified. “Our working group continues to engage with medical experts, athletes, and legal advisers to ensure that any policy aligns with both fairness and inclusion.”
The debate comes amid rising global polarization over the participation of transgender athletes in elite sports. In the United States, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee has already moved to restrict transgender women’s participation in national-level female events, following a February 2025 executive order that urged the IOC to revise its international framework. Meanwhile, human rights organizations and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have warned that a blanket ban could violate principles of equality enshrined in the Olympic Charter.
Sports analysts note that the IOC faces a difficult balancing act between safeguarding women’s sport and upholding its commitment to inclusivity. The final policy, expected to be published ahead of qualification events for the 2028 Games, could redefine eligibility standards for global competition and trigger legal challenges across multiple jurisdictions.
As the world’s attention turns toward Los Angeles 2028, the IOC’s pending decision is poised to shape not only the future of Olympic participation but also the broader global debate over gender, fairness, and human rights in sport.
By Dalena Reporters — International Sports Bureau