IOCs sex testing policy sparks criticism from France and praise from Trump

International Olympic Committee Adopts New Eligibility Policy for Women’s Events

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced a new eligibility policy for women’s events, requiring athletes to undergo genetic testing based on the SRY gene. The policy, which will be implemented from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics onwards, aims to identify male sex development in female athletes.

According to the IOC, only biological female athletes will be eligible to compete in women’s events under this new policy. France has expressed concerns over the decision, stating that it raises major ethical, legal, and scientific questions. The French government opposes a generalization of genetic screening, citing bioethics legislation.

US President Donald Trump has praised the IOC’s decision, saying it is a result of his executive order from February 2025 that banned transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports. New Zealand’s Olympic Committee has welcomed the policy, stating that it will bring greater clarity and fairness to future Games.

The IOC has stated that the genetic testing was introduced in 1967 but discontinued in 1999 due to concerns within the scientific community. However, the organization argues that this decision provides clarity for elite female athletes who compete at the highest level.

Laurel Hubbard, a New Zealand weightlifter who became the first openly transgender woman to compete in the Olympics in 2021, has kept a low profile since her appearance. The Australian Olympic Committee president, Ian Chesterman, has stated that the IOC has comprehensively investigated the issue and approached it with empathy and understanding.

The new policy is set to be implemented from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics onwards, affecting transgender women athletes who previously competed in female events.

Source: Al Jazeera