The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is preparing to implement a full ban on transgender athletes competing in women’s events at the Olympic Games, according to The Telegraph.
Previously, the IOC allowed international sports federations to set their own policies on transgender athlete eligibility, recommending that transgender women be permitted to compete only if they maintained a suppressed testosterone level for a specified period.
However, sources indicate that IOC President Kirsty Coventry has now stated her intention to “protect the women’s sport,” and an official announcement from the organization is expected soon.
Additionally, the new policy may affect athletes with differences in sex development. This includes 2024 Olympic boxing champions Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan, both of whom recorded elevated testosterone levels in a 2023 test. Despite this, both were allowed to compete in the Paris Games.
