A view of the Olympic rings (AP Photo/Jennifer McDermott) NEW DELHI: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided that from the 2028 Los Angeles Games, transgender women will no longer be allowed to compete in the Women’s Olympics. The move introduces a stricter eligibility rule stating that only biological females can participate, with a one-time mandatory genetic test to confirm this.The IOC said the change is to ensure fair competition. “Eligibility for any women’s event at the Olympics or any other IOC event… is now limited to biological women,” the body said. The policy, which is not retroactive and will not affect local sports, aims to “protect fairness, safety and integrity in the women’s category.”IOC President Kirsty Coventry supported the decision, saying: “At the Olympics, even the smallest differences can be the difference between victory and defeat… it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category.”The IOC also pointed to research suggesting that being born male can provide lasting physical advantages, particularly in strength, endurance and power sports. The gene test, which checks for the SRY gene, has been described as “the most accurate and least invasive method currently available”.The new rules will also affect some athletes with differential gender development (DSD), such as runner Caster Semenya. The IOC wants a clear, unified policy instead of leaving the decision to individual sports bodies, many of which have already introduced similar restrictions.The decision comes amid growing global debate and follows a US executive order pushing for stricter rules in women’s sports. While the IOC says the policy ensures fairness, it is expected to face criticism from human rights groups and activists.
