Policy Overview
The International Olympic Committee formally announced new eligibility criteria for women's events on March 27, to take effect from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Under the policy, all athletes seeking to compete in women's categories at Olympic and IOC-sanctioned events must undergo a one-time SRY gene screening to confirm biological female status.
The SRY gene is typically located on the Y chromosome and initiates male sex development during fetal development. The IOC considers the presence or absence of this gene a highly accurate indicator of whether an athlete has undergone male sex development. Testing can be conducted via saliva, oral swab, or blood sample.
Eligibility Outcomes and Competition Options
Athletes who test negative will permanently qualify for women's events through this single lifetime test.
Athletes who test positive — including transgender women and those with androgen-sensitive differences of sex development — will be ineligible for women's categories but may compete in men's events, male quota spots in mixed events, open categories, or sports not divided by sex.
A narrow exception applies to athletes diagnosed with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome or other rare differences of sex development who are determined not to have benefited from testosterone-related performance advantages.
IOC President's Statement
IOC President Coventry stated that all Olympic athletes have the right to compete on a fair basis, and that even marginal differences can determine outcomes at the highest level of competition. The IOC affirmed that women's categories exist as a necessary structure to ensure equal participation in elite sport, and that protecting their integrity is a shared priority of the Olympic movement.
European Editorial Office: John