— Published March 26, 2026

The IOC crosses the line into gender testing in the name of protecting female athletes.

Institutions Focus

From the moment she took office as IOC President, Kirsty Coventry put into action a word she has constantly emphasized: dialogue. It was on this foundation that she launched the Fit for the Future process to consult all stakeholders and make adjustments where we deem it necessary "To strengthen the Olympic Movement, four working groups were created in September to delve deeper into several key issues. This Thursday, the IOC Executive Board adopted a new Policy on the Protection of Women in Olympic Sport. The first strong message of Kirsty Coventry's term."

Safety and fairness

This policy is detailed in a 13-page document, which explains the approach. The key takeaway: Eligibility for any women's event at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, whether individual or team sports, is now reserved for individuals of female biological sex, as determined by SRY gene screening. This test will only need to be performed once, using a saliva, buccal, or blood sample. The IOC based this decision on scientific data, considering the presence of the SRY gene represents extremely reliable evidence that an athlete has undergone male sexual development This changes everything on the field.

« I understand that this is a sensitive subject.Kirsty Coventry explains in a video. The science is very clear: male chromosomes provide performance advantages in sports that rely on strength or endurance. At the Olympic Games, even the smallest performance margins can mean the difference between victory and defeat. It therefore seems quite obvious that it would not be fair for people of biological male sex to compete in the women's category. Moreover, in some sports, such a situation would simply not be compatible with safety requirements. "A speech already heard at Paris 2024, when boxer Angela Carini declared that she did not feel safe in the ring against future Olympic champion Imane Khelif.

A thousand athletes were consulted on the subject.

Kirsty Coventry, herself a former Olympian, constantly emphasizes that athletes are at the heart of all decisions made by the governing body. More than 1.100 of them, men and women, participated in an online survey to give their opinions on the protection of the women's category. Feedback from athlete consultations revealed that while there were nuances based on sex and gender, region, and athlete status (active or retired), there was also a strong consensus that fairness and safety in the women's category required clear, science-based eligibility criteria, and that protecting the women's category should be a priority. " concludes the IOC.

This policy was adopted by the executive committee unanimously Coventry emphasizes, very proud This is a significant development. Athletes carrying the SRY gene, including transgender athletes and athletes with disorders of sex development, will therefore have to compete, depending on the circumstances, in the male category or in an open category when events do not classify athletes by gender. The IOC held a press conference following the announcement. Jane Thornton, Director of the IOC's Department of Health, Medicine and Science, provided a detailed explanation of this policy.

Kirsty Coventry was also present and answered questions from the media. NWe don't have all the answers today. “,” she acknowledged, adding that some international federations, more advanced on the subject, were sharing their experience to help implement this policy in the most appropriate way possible. These tests have already been implemented by World Athletics and World Boxing, not without some commotionWorkshops and webinars will be organized with the FIs and the CNOs. We have time " reassured Coventry, noting that this policy will come into effect for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.