By Samuel Akpan with agency report
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is reportedly set to impose a blanket ban on transgender women competing in female categories at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
This marks a significant shift in policy, as the IOC previously allowed individual sports to decide their own eligibility rules.
The IOC’s medical and scientific director, Dr. Jane Thornton, presented a science-based review of trans and DSD issues to IOC members, highlighting the distinction between transgender and DSD athletes.
The presentation reportedly concluded that biological males retain physical advantages even after hormone treatments.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry has emphasized the need to protect the female category, and the working group is continuing discussions on the topic.
However, no decisions have been made yet, and the IOC has denied that any decision has been taken.
The proposed ban is expected to face internal opposition, and it’s unclear whether athletes with differences in sexual development (DSD) will also be affected.
The controversy surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who won gold at Paris 2024, has added fuel to the debate.
The IOC’s move follows pressure from US President Donald Trump, who signed an Executive Order banning transgender athletes from competing in female sports.
The policy shift is expected to be formally announced early next year, possibly at the IOC Session in Milan ahead of the Winter Olympics.
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