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, and set up a working group on the protection of women’s sport.
The IOC said that the review is “continuing its discussions on this topic and no decisions have been taken yet”.
However, after a presentation by its medical chief, sources have told BBC Sport told that a ban is likely to be introduced in 2026.
Last week, the IOC’s medical and scientific director Dr Jane Thornton updated its members as the organisation works through the details of the potential move.
As first reported by The Times, she revealed that initial findings of the science-based review suggested that athletes born male retain physiological advantages, even after reducing testosterone levels. BBC Sport has been told any blanket ban is unlikely to be introduced before the 2026 Winter Olympics, but could be brought in before the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
Back in March, former swimmer Coventry – a seven-time Olympic medallist – told BBC Sport that the IOC must “play a leading role” in discussions in this area, hinting at a major shift in approach.
The IOC has previously left sex eligibility regulations to the governing bodies of individual sports, rather than applying a universal approach, with many allowing transgender women athletes to compete in female competition if they lowered their testosterone levels.
After being elected, Coventry said a working group on the issue made up of experts and international federations would “ensure that we find consensus”.
She added that IOC members had shown “overwhelming support” to protecting the female category in sport.
Earlier this year, the president of the International Paralympic Committee said he is opposed to “blanket solutions” for transgender participation policies. Source: The Punch
