• The IOC will enforce a one-time gene screening test for athletes competing in female Olympic events.
• Only biological females will be allowed to compete, impacting transgender women and athletes with DSD.
• This policy aligns with political pressures in the United States, including President Trump's executive order.
• The new rules are strictly for Olympic-level competitions and do not apply retroactively.
• The decision has sparked strong reactions and discussions about fairness in sports.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that only biological female athletes will be eligible to compete in women's events at the Olympic Games, a change effective starting with the 2028 Los Angeles Games. This determination will be made through a one-time gene screening test for the SRY gene, which signifies male sex development, as part of a new policy aimed at maintaining "fairness, safety and integrity" within the female category, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The IOC's announcement reverts to a firmer stance on the eligibility requirements following prior policies that permitted individual federations to create their own rules regarding transgender athlete participation. Now, eligibility for all female events will be restricted to biological females, which includes a ban on transgender women and athletes with differences in sexual development (DSD) competing in Olympic events. This decision was largely inspired by ongoing debates about fairness and safety within women's sports, as emphasized by IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who stated that "even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat," according to CBS News and Los Angeles Times.

The decision mirrors a broader political context in the U.S., particularly the executive order signed by President Trump, known as "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports," which sought to limit transgender women from competing in female categories. This alignment suggests the IOC's decision may also be influenced by external pressures, as they declared that the new eligibility policy is intended to "protect fair play" in sports, according to Al Jazeera and India Times.

This policy has raised various concerns and responses from both the sports community and human rights advocates, unsure of the impact on competitive equity and athlete wellbeing. As the 2028 Games approach, and with the absence of openly transgender competitors noted in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, the IOC's new policy may maintain controversy over the intersection of gender identity and competitive sports, according to sources like CBS News and Los Angeles Times.