IOC limits Olympic women's sport to biological females from 2028

Key facts

• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that the women's category of Olympic sports will be limited to biological females from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
• Eligibility will be determined by a once-in-lifetime SRY gene test to detect the sex-determining region Y gene.
• Athletes who fail the test remain eligible for male categories, open categories, or mixed events that include a designated male slot.
• The policy will also apply to almost all athletes with a Difference of Sex Development (DSD) who have gone through male puberty.
• The only exemption is for athletes with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) who have not experienced male puberty.
• The IOC based its decision on an 18-month review of scientific evidence, an online athlete survey with over 1,100 responses, and interviews with impacted athletes.
• World Athletics, which already enforces similar rules, welcomed the IOC move as promoting a consistent approach across all sports.