The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has introduced a new eligibility policy that will restrict who can compete in women's events at the Olympic Games, marking a significant change ahead of Los Angeles 2028. Under the policy, eligibility for the women's category will be determined initially through a one-time genetic screening for the SRY gene, which is associated with male sex development.
Announced on 26 March 2026, the policy is intended to establish a common standard for the women's category across Olympic sports. Most athletes who test positive for the gene will be ineligible to compete in the category, although the IOC has specified limited medical exceptions. The decision has prompted debate over fairness, scientific evidence, privacy and the treatment of transgender athletes and women with differences in sex development (DSD).
How the New Olympic Rule Works
Under the policy, eligibility for the women's category at Olympic Games and other IOC events will be determined initially through screening for the presence or absence of the SRY gene. The IOC says the screening can be conducted using a saliva sample, cheek swab or blood sample.
The committee considers the presence of the gene highly accurate evidence that an athlete has experienced or will experience male sex development. The policy states that athletes who screen negative permanently satisfy its eligibility criteria, unless there is reason to believe the result is incorrect.
Athletes who test positive will generally be ineligible for the women's category, subject to the policy's stated exceptions. The rules apply from the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games onwards and are not retroactive. They do not apply to grassroots or recreational sport.
What Are the Medical Exceptions?
The IOC policy provides exceptions for athletes with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) and certain other rare DSD conditions where testosterone does not provide anabolic or performance-enhancing effects.
CAIS is a condition in which the body does not respond normally to androgens, including testosterone. However, a DSD diagnosis alone does not automatically establish eligibility under the IOC rules. The exception depends on the specific criteria set out in the policy.
The published rules distinguish between a positive screening result and the question of whether an athlete qualifies for an exception. The policy concerns eligibility for the women's category, rather than banning transgender athletes from every Olympic event.
How the Rules Differ From Previous Sports Policies
Before the IOC introduced its new framework, international sports federations had established different eligibility rules for their respective disciplines. In 2021, the IOC published a framework focused on fairness, inclusion and non-discrimination, leaving individual governing bodies to develop their own approaches.
World Athletics, for example, has separate regulations governing eligibility for certain athletes with DSD in women's track and field events. Those rules are distinct from the IOC's policy and should not be treated as interchangeable.
The new framework establishes an eligibility standard for events under the IOC's authority from LA28 onwards. It does not automatically impose the same requirements on every domestic league, school competition or recreational sports programme.
Concerns Over Privacy and Inclusion
The policy has raised concerns among human rights advocates and researchers about its potential effects on transgender athletes and women with variations in sex characteristics.
The Centre for Sport and Human Rights has highlighted human rights considerations surrounding sports eligibility rules, including privacy, dignity and equal treatment. Critics have also questioned the use of genetic screening as a basis for determining eligibility in women's sport.
The IOC argues that the policy is necessary to protect fairness and safety in elite women's sport. Critics challenge aspects of its scientific rationale and raise concerns about the consequences for athletes whose sex characteristics do not fit typical patterns.
These are contested questions. The IOC presents SRY screening as a reliable indicator of male sex development, while critics question whether the presence of a genetic marker is sufficient to determine sporting eligibility. The policy sets out the committee's eligibility criteria, but the wider debate over science, fairness and athletes' rights continues.
What the Policy Means for Los Angeles 2028
The policy applies to the Olympic Games and other IOC events covered by its rules from LA28 onwards. It represents a significant restriction for transgender women seeking to compete in Olympic women's events, while the stated exceptions mean that some athletes with DSD conditions may be assessed under specific medical criteria.
The decision places the IOC's approach to sex-based eligibility at the centre of an ongoing debate about competitive fairness, scientific evidence and athletes' rights. The published policy establishes the rules that will apply to Olympic competition from 2028, while questions about their wider implications remain contested.
