Transgender women will no longer be allowed to participate in women’s events at the Olympic Games. The decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is based on a scientific review that highlighted the inherent physical advantages of being biologically male.
A recent report from The Times indicates that the IOC is expected to unveil its revised policy early next year. Previously, the IOC permitted transgender women to compete with reduced testosterone levels, delegating the final decision to individual sports organizations.
This stance will shift under the leadership of new president Kirsty Coventry, who has committed to safeguarding the integrity of women’s sports. Dr. Jane Thornton, the committee’s medical and scientific director and a former Olympic rower from Canada, presented the preliminary results of the review during a meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, last week.
Dr. Thornton reportedly emphasized to attendees that scientific evidence supports the enduring physical advantages associated with being born male, even after undergoing testosterone level adjustments.
An insider described the presentation as “scientific, factual, and devoid of emotion,” presenting compelling evidence. Feedback from IOC members following the meeting was reportedly highly positive.
Currently, the official Olympics website states that athletes meeting eligibility criteria set by their respective International Federations (IFs) are welcome to compete in the Games, regardless of gender identity or sex characteristics.
The boxing competition at the Paris Olympics sparked controversy when two boxers, Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu-Ting of Taiwan, both secured gold medals despite being disqualified from the previous year’s World Championships due to gender eligibility issues.
World Boxing, the IOC-recognized international boxing federation post-Paris, has now implemented compulsory gender verification testing. Khelif will have to undergo this testing before being permitted to compete in the women’s category.
The IOC is expected to announce the revised policy in early 2026, possibly coinciding with the Winter Olympics in February. Coventry, a former Olympic swimmer from Zimbabwe and the newly elected president, emphasized the importance of protecting women’s sports and involving all stakeholders in decision-making, guided by scientific research and collaboration with international federations.
Sky has discounted its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, offering savings of £192 and access to over 1,400 live matches covering the Premier League, EFL, and more.
Next season, Sky plans to broadcast a minimum of 215 live Premier League matches, a substantial increase from the previous season.
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