The Olympics are resetting the rules of competition and drawing a hard line on who qualifies for women’s sports.
The International Olympic Committee announced a sweeping new policy Thursday restricting women’s events to biological females, backed by mandatory genetic screening.
Under the new rules, eligibility for women’s competitions will be determined through a one-time SRY gene test — a genetic marker used to identify biological sex — marking one of the most definitive policies the Olympic movement has adopted on the issue.
The policy will take effect starting with the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Testing can be conducted through saliva, cheek swab, or blood sample.
And the IOC is framing the move as a return to competitive integrity.
Hannity Highlights
The IOC will restrict women’s Olympic events to biological females starting with the 2028 Games.
A one-time genetic test will be used to verify eligibility in the female category.
The policy is designed to standardize rules globally and reduce ongoing disputes across sports.
Officials say the move reinforces fairness and clarity for athletes competing at the highest level.
In its announcement, the IOC said the policy is “evidence-based and expert-informed,” designed to protect fairness, safety, and equal opportunity in women’s sports.
The organization emphasized that maintaining a female category is essential to ensuring both men and women have access to elite competition.
At the center of the announcement is IOC President Kristy Coventry.
“As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition,” Coventry said. “It would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”
The data point driving urgency: a World Athletics panel found that between 50 and 60 athletes with male biological advantages have reached finals in women’s events at global competitions since 2000.
More over at The AP:
BREAKING: Trans women athletes are banned from the Olympics by a new IOC policy on female eligibility. https://t.co/ZgLxRn9DO9
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 26, 2026
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