The International Olympic Committee has introduced a new policy restricting participation in the female category at Olympic events to biological females, effective from the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Approved by the IOC Executive Board, the policy applies to all disciplines on the Olympic programme from LA28 onwards and will not have retroactive effect.
In its announcement on Thursday, the IOC stated, “For all disciplines on the sports programme of an IOC event, including the Olympic Games and for both individual and team sports, eligibility for any female category is limited to biological females.”
Eligibility will be determined through screening for the SRY gene, considered a reliable indicator of male sex development.
According to the statement, “Eligibility for the female category is to be determined in the first instance by SRY gene screening to detect the absence or presence of the SRY gene.” The presence of the gene, usually on the Y chromosome, is permanent and provides highly accurate evidence of male sex development.
Screening may be conducted using saliva, cheek swab, or blood sample and is described as less intrusive than other methods. Athletes testing negative for the gene will permanently meet eligibility criteria for the female category, with the test conducted only once: “Athletes who screen negative for the SRY gene permanently satisfy this policy’s eligibility criteria for competition in the female category… this will be a once-in-a-lifetime test.”
Exceptions apply for athletes diagnosed with Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome or certain differences in sex development that do not confer a performance advantage. Those with a positive SRY result will be ineligible for the female category but may compete in other categories, including male, mixed, or open.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry explained that the policy is science-based, aiming to ensure fairness and safety: “As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition. The policy that we have announced is based on science and has been led by medical experts. At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”
She emphasized that athletes must be treated with dignity and respect, noting that screening will be conducted only once, accompanied by counselling and education.
The policy follows a review conducted between September 2024 and March 2026 involving consultations with scientists, medical experts, legal specialists, sports federations, and athletes worldwide. The working group concluded that male sex provides performance advantages in sports requiring strength, power, and endurance, and recommended that eligibility for the female category be based on biological sex to ensure fairness and safety.
The IOC noted, “There was a strong consensus that fairness and safety in the female category required clear, science-based eligibility rules, and that protecting the female category is a common priority.”
The new policy replaces previous guidance on gender identity and sex variations in sport and applies only to IOC events. International federations and national Olympic committees are expected to adopt it when establishing eligibility rules. The policy does not extend to grassroots or recreational sports programmes.