IOC: Only Biological Females Will Be Allowed At Olympic Games Female Events

2026-03-28 - 10:11

WORLDWIDE – The International Olympic Committee has announced a major policy shift, saying only athletes without the S-R-Y gene, associated with male sex development, will be eligible to compete in women’s events at future olympic games. The IOC says athletes entering the female category will now undergo a one-time gene-screening test, part of a new global standard aimed at protecting fairness in elite women’s sport, according to Reuters. The policy follows years of controversy and differing rules across international federations, with IOC President Kirsty Coventry saying even small performance margins make category protection essential. The new rules will not apply retroactively and will only govern elite olympic-level competition, not grassroots or amateur sport.