The International Olympic Committee has decided: athletes wishing to compete in the women's category at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games will have to undergo a genetic test for femininityThe decision was made after consulting with medical experts and athletes. Kirsty Coventry clarified on Thursday that the implementation of these tests will be the responsibility of international federations and national Olympic committees. Some of them have already reacted to this.
The FIs are rather satisfied
The few international federations that have spoken out so far have all expressed their support for the IOC. This is the case for World Gymnastics, which welcomed this decision in a statement Friday. " We support the IOC's continued commitment to establishing a clear and consistent framework for competition, which is essential to the integrity of the sport. For the global gymnastics community, this decision represents an important step towards greater transparency and fairness. World Gymnastics remains committed to working collaboratively with the IOC and relevant stakeholders to foster a respectful, inclusive, and responsible environment. »
Same story on the side of the International Volleyball Federation : « The IOC's policy aligns closely with the FIVB's current approach to gender eligibility in international competitions, which aims to ensure fair competition for all athletes while respecting the principle of inclusivity in volleyball. The FIVB recognizes that protecting the women's category is essential to guaranteeing fairness, safety, and equal opportunities for female athletes, while preserving the integrity of international competition. »
World Athletics, which had taken the initiative by imposing these tests before the 2025 World Championships, responded through a spokesperson to the daily newspaper. L'Equipe : « To attract and retain more girls and women in sports, it is essential to guarantee equal opportunities and remove any glass ceilings related to biology. This means that gender cannot take precedence over biology. A consistent approach across all sports is undoubtedly a good thing. »
The International Olympic Committee announces new Policy on the Protection of the Female (Women's) Category in Olympic Sport.
- IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) March 26, 2026
Read: https://t.co/QcU5IVxyTi pic.twitter.com/3brHorx1k8
The president of the International Boxing Association, Umar Kremlev, welcomed the IOC's decision to side with his federation. For years, the IOC turned a blind eye to what was destroying the very meaning of women's sport, and it is now forced to correct its own mistakes. It is a victory for common sense that the IOC has finally arrived at the same principles that the IBA has championed for years. We established clear participation criteria long before it became "obvious" to the rest of the world. We have always protected our female athletes, especially when others have chosen silence or political expediency. " The other IFs have not taken a public position.
A "step backwards" according to France
Opinions differ among the NOCs. The Australian Olympic Committee applauds, stating that " this decision brings clarity to female athletes. " In New Zealand, Nicki Nicol is still waiting to see what happens. "Our priority now is to fully understand this policy and to work closely with our sports federations, the Athletes' Commission and the ALN (Athlete Leaders Network) to ensure that the next steps are approached with clear understanding, respect and goodwill., said the executive director of NZOC. This is a complex and sensitive area that directly affects people. »
In France, the CNOSF raises " major ethical and scientific questions "While also noting the practical difficulties, since these tests are prohibited by law in France. Last year, before the World Championships, the French female boxers were forced to take these tests abroad, but a scheduling issue prevented them from participating. Sports Minister Marina Ferrari expressed her "big concern" on behalf of the French government: " We oppose the widespread use of genetic testing, which raises numerous ethical, legal, and medical questions, particularly with regard to French bioethics legislation. These tests, introduced in 1967, were discontinued in 1999 due to strong reservations within the scientific community regarding their value. France regrets this step backward. »
The CNOSF calls for Progress must be made in a concerted manner on this complex and sensitive issue, respecting both the fundamental rights of those involved and the integrity of competitions. The seminar announced by the IOC with the National Olympic Committees in the coming days or weeks on the implementation of today's announcements will be very useful in this regard; it is eagerly awaited by the CNOSF. "Many questions at the moment, and not all the answers yet."
