IOC moves closer to ban on transgender women

[madville]

Source: BBC

10 November 2025, 13:02 GMT

The International Olympic Committee has moved a step closer to introducing a blanket ban on transgender women from female categories across all sports.

IOC president Kirsty Coventry vowed to bring in the policy as part of her election campaign. On Monday the Times reported, external that the ban was set to be announced early next year after a presentation to IOC members by its medical chief.

In response, the IOC said that "the working group is continuing its discussions on this topic and no decisions have been taken yet". However, sources have told BBC Sport told that a ban is likely to be introduced in 2026.

Initial findings of her review are thought to have highlighted the physiological advantages that athletes born male retain, even after reducing testosterone levels. A blanket ban is unlikely to be introduced before the 2026 Winter Olympics, but could be brought in before the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cy4p29j4z70o

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Looks like an Olympic boycott is in order if they pass this new rule.

[maxsolomon]

1. A boycott by who? That seems highly unlikely.

The IOC's new policy is also set to cover athletes with DSD (differences of sex development). Both World Athletics and World Boxing have introduced genetic sex screening this year to protect the integrity of women's competition.

That would screw over Imane Khelif.

[madville]

2. Sponsors and viewers

Would big corporate sponsors still want to be associated with the Olympics?

[EX500rider]

4. "Would big corporate sponsors still want to be associated with the Olympics?"

It does not poll real well:

Nearly 70% of US adults say transgender athletes should be allowed to compete only on sports teams that correspond with the sexes they were assigned at birth

https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/americans-oppose-inclusion-trans-athletes-sports-poll-finds-rcna88940

[TommyT139]

3. They won't need a ban before Los Angeles

... because the trumpist regime won't grant trans people visas if their gender markers don't follow the fascist binary.