IOC Reviews Rules for Transgender Athletes in Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that it is still studying universal rules for the participation of transgender athletes in the Olympic Games. This comes as more sports bodies worldwide are tightening their eligibility criteria, a move that reflects changing opinions within international sports. The IOC now appears more open to setting clearer and fairer global standards.

Under its new president, Kirsty Coventry, the IOC has shifted its approach. In June, the committee reversed its previous stance and decided to take the lead in forming eligibility rules for transgender athletes in the Olympics. Earlier, the IOC had left the decision to individual sports federations, which created confusion due to varying policies across different sports. Coventry’s leadership marks a major step toward a unified framework that aims to ensure both fairness and inclusion.

In September, President Coventry created a special group called the “Protection of the Female Category” working group. This panel includes experts and representatives from international federations. Its goal is to explore how to safeguard fairness in women’s sports while respecting the rights of all athletes. The group is currently studying scientific data, social impacts, and legal considerations to design a balanced policy.

According to an IOC spokesperson, the working group is still holding discussions and has not yet made a final decision. The IOC’s Director of Health, Medicine, and Science recently provided an update on the issue to IOC members during commission meetings. More information will be shared once the committee reaches its conclusions, the spokesperson said.

Before Coventry’s leadership change, the IOC had chosen not to impose any universal rule on transgender athlete participation. In 2021, it asked each international federation to develop its own set of rules. Under the current guidelines, which remain in force, transgender athletes are eligible to compete in the Olympic Games. However, the lack of a standard rulebook has led to inconsistencies and debates about fairness and inclusion.

Only a few openly transgender athletes have competed in the Olympic Games. One of the most notable examples is New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard, who participated in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. Hubbard became the first openly transgender athlete to compete in a gender category different from that assigned at birth. Despite this milestone, global participation remains very low due to varying eligibility policies and social challenges.

In recent years, several international sports federations have taken independent steps to restrict eligibility in women’s sports. Many of these organizations have based their rules on biological and developmental factors, such as male puberty. For example, World Rugby and World Athletics have banned transgender athletes who have gone through male puberty from competing in female categories.

World Aquatics, which governs swimming and other water sports, has taken a slightly different approach. It allows transgender athletes to compete only if they transitioned before the age of 12. This rule aims to ensure fairness by considering physical development differences that occur after puberty. However, critics argue that such strict age limits can be exclusionary and unrealistic for many athletes.

The world of football is still working on clear policies. FIFA, the global governing body, has yet to announce updated rules, even as some national associations like England’s FA have already banned transgender athletes from participating in women’s competitions. Similarly, boxing and athletics have introduced mandatory tests to identify the SRY gene, which determines male biological characteristics. These tests aim to regulate participation by athletes with Differences of Sexual Development (DSD).

The global debate continues to focus on how sports organizations can balance inclusion with fairness. Supporters of stricter rules argue that physical advantages linked to male puberty can affect fairness in female competitions. On the other hand, advocates for inclusion emphasize the need to protect the dignity, rights, and opportunities of transgender athletes who wish to compete.

The IOC’s current review signals an important turning point. It shows that the committee recognizes the need for consistency across sports and a scientific basis for its policies. The goal is to ensure that every athlete, regardless of gender identity, can compete fairly while maintaining the integrity of the Games. The IOC is expected to release further updates in the coming months as its working group finalizes recommendations.